Re: Kalesnikoff presents new pro-forest industry group to Nelson council, March 6
The Save What’s Left Conservation Society acknowledges Ken Kalesnikoff’s call for BC Timber Sales (BCTS) policy changes to prioritize smaller independent companies. We also recognize his efforts to add value to B.C.’s forest products over the years.
However, this is where our applause ends. Despite claims that “Forestry Works for BC’s goal is education, not policy change,” this is yet another forest industry group lobbying to protect the status quo. Their primary messaging promotes increasing the annual allowable cut, even suggesting that more old-growth logging will be necessary to sustain higher harvest levels. Their website’s article, “New Forestry Advocate Society Presses for Working Forest Legislation,” makes this clear.
Framing Forestry Works for BC’s agenda as “education” is an insult to British Columbians. We don’t need a lesson in forestry from a lobbyist group pushing for more clearcutting and replacing primary forests with ecological dead zones. If we want education, we’ll turn to ecologists and biologists — who warn that we are in a biodiversity and ecological crisis.
Kalesnikoff states, “Are they still clearcutting? Yes. Are they clearcutting big swaths? Yes. I don’t understand it, other than it’s pure economics, and I don’t like that.” He implies that his company is not engaging in clearcutting, which is misleading — just look at the Sproule Creek watershed, etc.
The tariffs on softwood lumber imposed by the U.S. present an opportunity to reform forestry. The U.S. is correct in arguing that we subsidize our industry — the same log sells for twice as much just across the border. Instead of lobbying for increased harvesting, Kalesnikoff’s group should be pushing for forest tenure reform that favours smaller B.C. businesses and creates more jobs — a comparatively bigger piece of a smaller pie.
Joe Karthein
Director, Save What’s Left Conservation Society
