recommend the expansion of area-based tenures, arguing that this would enable harvest levels to increase and that they would do a better job of forest manage-ment. The Special Committee agreed and included this along with its other findings and recommendations in its report to the legislature in August 2012. In February 2013, the government introduced its proposal concerning area-based tenures in Bill 8. However the bill’s passage was interrupted by a May 2013 provincial election. Following re-election, Premier Christy Clark instructed Forests Minister Steve Thomson to get on with the job of expanding the area of forest under area-based tenures. The government argues that area-based tenures will, “create an incentive for licence holders to make enhanced silviculture and infrastructure investments that will improve the mid-term timber supply.” Conversions of volume-based replace-able forest licences to area-based manage-ment are to be guided by the following principles: • clear public benefit • return of a portion of the allowable annual cut (AAC) to government to support – among other things – de-velopment of the bio-energy sector • commitment to higher standards of forest management • tenure that supports sufficient AAC • the AAC and management of the re-sidual timber supply area will not be unduly impacted • a fair and balanced exchange of rights and opportunity • support of existing government for-est tenure commitments • no undue impact of existing forest tenure holders • protection of Aboriginal interests and existing land-use plans The application must be available for public review and comment for at least 60 days, and the applicant must submit the results of the public review process and show how public concerns have been addressed before submitting to the minis-ter for decision. The wood pellet sector must carefully monitor the progress of this initiative and respond vigorously to any proposed con-versions. This may present an opportunity for pellet producers to offer support for conversions in exchange for secure access to residual fibre. This could help the pellet industry to reach its full potential. If pro-posed conversions do not provide for the needs of the pellet sector, then we must protest in the strongest possible terms. Whether the government’s second attempt at this legislation will move for-ward remains to be seen. We will see if the government is serious about its com-mitment to its publicly stated guiding principles. The voices of opposition were heard loud and clear in the lead-up to the provincial election. Now that the election is in the rearview mirror, we will soon see if the government will continue to listen or if it will repeat the failure of the last government that tried this. • Gordon Murray is executive director of the Wood Pellet Association of Canada. He encourages all those who want to support and benefit from the growth of the Ca -nadian wood pellet industry to join. Gordon welcomes all comments and can be contacted by telephone at 250-837-8821 or by e-mail at [email protected]. Maximum production. Low operating cost. The Bühler RWPR-900 is the ideal pellet mill for your biomass applications. The RWPR was designed with massive roll bearings to withstand the extreme pressures of biomass pelleting. To ensure ease of operation the pellet mill is equipped with a simple V-belt drive system with minimal moving parts. This top of the line pellet mill provides an effective and effi cient pelleting solution. For more information please visit www.buhlergroup.com. Bühler Inc., PO Box 9497, Minneapolis, MN 55440, 763-847-9900, [email protected], www.buhlergroup.com Heavy Duty Pellet Mill Maximum Production. Flexible controls optimize process Low operating costs. Rollers, dies and other wear parts are designed for maximum performance and longevity to increase uptime and profi tability. Safe operation. A combined overload shear pin and belt slip monitor protect the pellet mill from overloads or foreign material entering the die. Innovations for a better world. RWPR_2012.indd 1 Canadian BIOMASS 11/6/2012 8:27:20 AM 11
Canadian Biomass November/December 2013: Page 11
