Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced today regulatory changes that provide access to logging slash and wood waste fibre needed by bioenergy producers and manufacturers of wood pellets and other bio-products.

Amendments to regulations under the Forest Act, the Forest and Range Practices Act, and the Wildfire Act will bring into effect a residual forestry licence to cut, as well as a fibre supply licence to cut, for wood biomass.

These licences will enable smaller operators to acquire wood fibre and logging debris unwanted by primary harvesters. This includes the smaller trees, branches, limbs and tops of trees that are piled roadside or on logging landing sites as the by-product of a typical timber harvesting operation. The new tenures do not grant rights to harvest standing timber.

Supporting rural forest economies by improving access to wood biomass for smaller operators is part of the forest sector strategy for British Columbia, released in April 2012 under Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan.

Quotes:

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson -

"These tenures will increase opportunities to turn slash piles and unwanted fibre into energy, wood pellets and other bio-products. Improved use of logging leftovers and residual wood provides jobs and economic benefits for rural communities, especially those affected by the mountain pine beetle infestation."

Quick Facts:

• Residual forestry licences to cut are intended for utilizing wood waste fibre from small, short-term operations limited to a few cutblocks or roadside operations.
• Fibre supply licences to cut are intended for utilizing wood waste from larger geographic areas.
• The BC Committee on Bio-Economy has recommended improved access to forest biomass fibre and feedstock to help accelerate the growth of the British Columbia bio-economy.
• Wood fibre bio-products include electricity, fuels, plastics, solvents, lubricants and even food additives.

Learn More:

Forest Sector Strategy for British Columbia: www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/forestsectorstrategy/

BC Committee on Bio-Economy report: www.gov.bc.ca/jti/down/bio_economy_report_final.pdf

BC Bioenergy Network: www.bcbioenergy.com

Contact:

Brennan Clarke
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261