April 13, 2015

The export of raw logs is a crisis in BC. Despite outcry from forest communities, unions, policy experts, political leaders, environmental groups and thousands of citizens, this controversial practice has reach record levels in recent years.

The spike in raw log exports, facilitated by the BC government, has been a disaster for BC’s environment and our forest economy. Fortunately, municipal governments are showing real leadership on the issue.

The Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities (AVICC) is a body comprised of the mayors, councillors and regional directors for all cities, towns and districts on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, Discovery Islands and the Sunshine Coast. At its annual convention this past weekend, this association of municipal decision-makers passed a resolution to call on the provincial government to re-examine raw log export policy.

The full resolution is as follows:

R17 Provincial Government – Re-examine Log Export Policy
(Introduced by Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District)

WHEREAS Coastal log exports increased 65% by volume from 2010 levels to 6,348,674 m3 in 2013 and the Coast represents 90.6% of total log export volume in the province of BC;

AND WHEREAS the coastal forest industry has grown dependent upon log exports with unintended consequences to the manufacturing sector;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island and Coastal Communities request the Provincial Government re-examine the Log Export Policy and the impact this policy has on the Coastal Forest Industry, and that the Provincial Government investigate options for modifying the Log Export Policy in light of the increased Coastal Log Exports over the last several years.

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This is an important step in urging the provincial government to address the issue of raw log exports, and the damage this practice is causing to forest-dependent communities on Vancouver Island and beyond. Thank you to all the Wilderness Committee supporters who took action and encouraged local mayors and councillors to vote on this resolution!

Please stay tuned for more opportunities to take action to stop raw log exports in BC.

Photo: Logging truck (EllenM via Flickr).