WSCA Conference: Siliviculture contractors challenged Chief Forester Jim Snetsinger over the pace of work restoring forests lost to the mountain pine beetle citing the plummeting reforestation ratio and the extraordinary extent of the forest health disaster.
But Snetsinger stated he didn’t want to compromise future industries that might emerge to harvest damaged stands by leveling forests now that may have future worth. Contractors replied that even under the most optimistic circumstances it is illusory to think these potential industries could materialize in time to put a dent in all the grey wood in the province. Worse, they said, these stands could eventually pose a threat to the forests that are replanted.