Silvicultural Practices and Costs in Coastal British Columbia: A Case Study
In 1987, the Government of British Columbia transferred responsibility for basic silviculture from the Provincial Ministry of Forests to the major forest licensees, and the introduction and implementation of the Forest Practices Code in 1995 intensified forest company responsibilities for silvicultural activities. The highly prescriptive Forest Practices Code also dictates how silvicultural objectives of public forest lands are to be operationally delivered. In this paper, primary data on silvicultural practices and costs of a forest company operating in Coastal British Columbia are analyzed. Our findings indicate that, although British Columbia forest companies have accepted the legislated transfer of postharvest silvicultural obligations, public policy encourages companies to treat silviculture as a cost of doing business rather than an investment. Because of these institutional signals, forest companies seek to confine their operations to basic silviculture. Furthermore, silvicultural costs are positively correlated with the intensification of government regulations, particularly the Forest Practices Code. Finally, the research indicates that innovative approaches are required to efficiently deliver socially desirable silvicultural investments. Tree Planters' Notes 50(1): 50-57; 2003.
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Author(s): Sen Wang, G. Cornelis van Kooten, Bill Wilson
Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volumes 50, Number 1 (2003)
Volume: 50
Number: 1
