Thomas Hoffman presents to council, June 11 (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

SUPPORTING FORESTRY

Kamloops’ Kruger mill says provincial improvements to forest management would help workers, environment

Jun 11, 2024 | 6:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — “The fibre is there, it truly is just an issue of access,” Kruger Kamloops Fibre Manager Thomas Hoffman told Kamloops council Tuesday (June 11).

Kruger has been working to find new, innovative ways to utilize fibre that has been damaged by wildfires in recent years. It’s an important step to support forestry workers by providing supply for mills while also allowing the province’s ecosystems to recover.

“We need to work together. This isn’t just a forest industry topic — it affects us all. We live in rural Canada. We are surrounded by trees, which are beautiful but they need to be managed,” said Hoffman.

The issue arises with the timeline needed to harvest the burnt logs while it’s still profitable for companies. Trees damaged by wildfire have a 1-to-7-year shelf life before they rot and will be left in the forests.

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“There are opportunities… to reduce the fire hazard, maintain jobs, reduce the risk to homeowners through insurance and provide value-added products to a world market that needs it,” added Hoffman.

Kruger appeared in front of Kamloops council asking for support in appealing to higher levels of government to push fibre permits forward.

“It’s tremendously frustrating to see that these emergency permits will not be issued, so that this fibre can be cleared, so that we can reduce the waste. Instead, it sits in the ground and rots,” said Kamloops councillor Katie Neustaeter. “They are dollars that should be pouring into our economy right now and are restricted by bureaucracy and process. We are happy to be joining you in that fight.”

Hoffman highlighted how, once the trees are burnt, they stop helping the environment and should be utilized, with new trees then replanted.

“They aren’t sequestering carbon anymore. They are actually emitting carbon. If we are truly concerned about climate change, again I come back to forest management. Let’s convert those silvicultural slums into vibrant young hearty forests that are sequestering carbon, providing habitat for wildlife and, as well, a forest environment that we all, as people in British Columbia, can enjoy,” said Hoffman.

Council did vote in favour of sending a letter to Forests Minister Bruce Ralston looking for details on how the province plans to harvest burnt timber.