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• Message from the CEO
• Corporate News
• Aircrane
• Log Harvesting
• Forestry & Engineering
• Environmental Management
• Safety Stats
• Information Systems

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By Ken Matthews, Forestry ManagerForestry & Engineering

 

Everyone who works in the forest industry or has associated employment wants to continue to be successful and enjoy sustainable careers and livelihoods.  Most of us watch the Discovery Channel or Nature channels and understand that around the world, species and entire ecosystems are being endangered or pushed to extinction at an alarming rate because of our activities.  We need to be concerned.

CFP has been in business a long time as have many other forest companies on the Coast of BC.  It shows.  Outside of parks and protected areas, there are few remaining large intact areas old growth timber.  We have covered a lot of ground in the last 100 years.  Our remaining options in old growth areas are limited.

It is critical that our front line planners, engineers and our road builders, fallers and loggers are aware of the species and ecosystems that are at risk in our local areas and understand how we can protect these species as we go about our business and create jobs and economic activity.

 

How can we protect species and ecosystems of conservation concern?

Biologists and ecosystem specialists do not have precise information on species populations in our area and likely have not identified all of the species that exist here.  We have enough information to see trends and identify the species of most concern.  At broad levels, in the absence of species population numbers and exact ranges, we often manage protection of these species by default; we protect areas of land assuming that this will protect species and ecosystems that live there. 

Parks and other protected areas have been established over time.  These areas form the base for protection of all species and ecosystems.  Under Provincial legislation, there are many additional forms of protection for specific purposes or species which can be brought into play in smaller areas for species of concern.  We use set asides in our harvesting areas for wildlife habitat areas, ungulate winter ranges, old growth management areas, wildlife tree patches, riparian reserve zones and fisheries sensitive zones.  Other areas may be reserved from development because of unstable terrain or culturally significant areas.  These areas also serve to protect the species which live there even though they are not in formal protected areas.

The Federal and Provincial governments have also brought in protective legislation such as the Species at Risk Act to protect endangered species if they are found in any area even if it has no formal protection.  Legally, government can impose severe penalties on individuals or companies who ignore the measures set up to protect endangered species.

As foresters, engineers, road builders, loggers, truck drivers, or tree planters we have an obligation to know and recognize species and ecosystems of conservation concern in the areas we work in.  As part of our sustainable forest management plan and registration under the SFIS® Program, CFP belongs to the Western Canada SFI Implementation Committee.  This Committee has helped fund an impressive factsheet and user guide for species of concern.  I have provided a link to this document and other documents on this topic on the Coulson website.   Please take an opportunity to review these documents.  Front line workers who are in the forest each day have critical input into ensuring we all live up to our obligations to protect species and ecosystems of concern.