British Columbia (BC) timber supplies could drop drastically if a mitigation plan is not implemented soon, according to news agency The Canadian Press.
The agency quoted a leaked report as saying that without a mitigation plan, timber supplies could fall up to 67% in the Prince George, Quesnel, Williams Lake and Lakes areas, compared to pre-beetle levels.
The BC government report suggests harvesting could target smaller trees and forests currently off limits to commercial logging.
The beetle epidemic, says the report, had the potential for significant economic effects on the BC forest industry.
In the most recent outbreak large swathes of BC have been infested.
