Mar

Will BC forests look like Britain?

British Forestry Commissioner Tim Rollinson gave a lecture recently at the University of British Columbia highlighting the importance of forests as the world’s population grows to an estimated 8 billion people in the next fifteen years. Forests are at the forefront in the fight against climate change, to lock up carbon, oxygenate the atmosphere and conserve water. This new view of forests is a big change from how they were viewed in Britain at one time.

“By the time the Romans arrived in Britain around 2,000 years ago, forest cover had been reduced to around half of its original state. Even so, when Julius Caesar arrived he was recorded as saying that ‘the whole island is one horrible forest’! At the beginning of the 20th century, our forest cover was at an all time low – just 5% of the land area.

Using examples from Britain, Mr. Rollinson emphasized the need for foresters need to be able to conserve, harvest and manage forests sustainably, and restore the forests that have been lost.

Mr. Rollinson chairs the Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration, a collaborative network of people that promotes responsible forestry and reforestation.

It would be interesting if he had any words to say about British Columbia’s decision to axe away at its own forest policies. Whereas Britain can be proud of its reforestation, whereas the coastal Douglas firs on British Columbia’s west coast have almost been eradicated because there has been no incentive to reforest over the years.

In the meantime, one of the larger seedling growers, Pacific Regeneration Technologies, has closed several locations due to changes in BC’s forestry practices.

Tags: reforestation