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For The Record

FACTS ABOUT REFORESTATION IN B.C.

Oct. 1, 2009
Ministry of Forests and Range
 

British Columbia is known around the world for its forests and forest products. Reforestation is a key element of B.C.’s sustainable forestry regime. Here are the facts about reforestation in B.C.:

  • About two-thirds of British Columbia’s total 95 million hectares are forested.
  • British Columbia has about as much forest as it did 150 years ago. About three per cent of areas that were formerly forests have been permanently converted to other land uses, such as towns, cities or for agricultural use.
  • In British Columbia, reforestation is strictly regulated so that new forests mirror the diversity of natural forests, and support the sustainable harvest of commercially valuable timber.
  • By law, all harvested areas must be reforested. The timber licensee pays the cost of reforestation.
  • After fire or harvest, reforestation occurs by planting or by natural regeneration (trees sprouting from naturally occurring seed or from roots).
  • About 20 per cent of harvested areas are reforested naturally; the balance by planting.
  • Seeds used in reforestation programs come from two sources: seed orchards, which produce “select” seed from trees with proven growth, timber and pest resistance qualities; and wild stands.
  • By law, reforestation decisions (such as what species to plant) must be made by registered forest professionals. These decisions are driven based on the natural ecological conditions of the harvested area.
  • Virtually all logged areas are reforested within legally set, allowable timeframes.
  • British Columbia uses a mix of over 20 different native tree species in its reforestation programs.
  • Data shows that reforestation is maintaining a mix of tree species in B.C., which helps maintain ecosystem processes and diverse habitats.
  • No genetically-modified seedlings may be planted on public land in B.C.
  • On average, more than 200 million tree seedlings are planted each year on public forest land in B.C.
  • Since reforestation programs began in the 1930s, more than 6 billion trees have been planted in B.C.
  • The province established Forests for Tomorrow to reforest the areas hardest hit by catastrophic wildfires and mountain pine beetle epidemic. The program reforests areas that are not being commercially harvested and is projected to plant 60 million trees by 2012/13.
  • Research has contributed to evolution in silviculture practices over the past 30 years, leading to improved conservation of biological diversity, reforestation, and the volume and value of future timber supplies.
  • The province’s Chief Forester has established standards to regulate the registration, storage, selection and transfer of tree seed. These standards are aimed at maintaining and enhancing the health and productivity of B.C.’s future forests.
  • The province has programs in place to conserve the genetic resources of B.C.’s native tree species. These include conserving natural tree populations in parks, protected areas and provincial forests, and gene archives. The goal of these programs and the reforestation requirements is to ensure that B.C.’s forests contain genetic diversity, an important element in maintaining ecosystem resilience.