Logging in British Columbia: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly:

A Brief History:

British Columbia has had a long history of Forestry and silviculture, dating back to the nineteenth century. Now, with complex equipment, one in sixteen jobs in BC are related someway to the forest industry, with forestry contributing $12 billion annually to the provincial GDP.

Problems in the past:

Erosion:

One major problem that comes with deforestation, is that the land can erode very quickly. The trees' root systems hold the ground back from simply washing away in heavy precipitation. However, once the trees are harvested, the soil can easily wash away into nearby creeks and watersheds, creating a potential hazard for some fish, such as salmon.

Carbon Emissions and Greenhouse Gas:

Another major environmental concern directly related to the logging industry, is greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide. The machinery used in the harvest of trees and the manufacture of wood based commodities, such as paper or plywood, burn fuel and release tons of carbon into the atmosphere annually. For example, in 1990, sawmills in British Columbia produced 1.3 million tons of carbon dioxide. It is a known fact that such gases are contributors to climate change and global warming.

Habitat Loss:

Habitat loss is not so much of a problem in British Columbia as it is in a place such as the Amazon Basin in Brazil. However, it is still an issue. Forests are habitat for many animals, some of which can live no where else. When the trees in an area are removed, these animals or birds are left without a home and must move elsewhere.

What We are Doing About It:

Tree Planting:

To prevent erosion, companies are required to be responsible for the restoration of the area that they harvested. This includes planting trees. Every year, BC plants approximately 3 trees for every one harvested. Trees planted in British columbia have already taken an estimated two billion tons of carbon out of the atmosphere.

Parks and Protected Areas:

BC Parks are the second largest parks systems in Canada, with National Parks being first. 62% of British Columbia is forested, with only 24% (22 million hectares) being harvestable. 15% of BC is fully protected in parks, and much more falls under some kind of special management, such as recreation, biodiversity, or habitat.

Efficient Equipment and Sustainable Practices:

With new equipment and more sustainable practices, mills in British Columbia have lowered their carbon emissions by 60% from 1990 until 2010. Also, logging companies target old growth trees, which are no longer filtering carbon out of the air and are actually releasing carbon and methane (another harmful greenhouse gas) into the atmosphere. They then plant the healthy young trees, which are the ones that turn carbon dioxide into oxygen.