What is distressing is that the real issues are being swept aside while the gasoline pump watchers wait for the bell to signal that we have gone over $1.50/litre.

The provincial government’s climate action plan contains a lot more than a tax on carbon (that is, a tax on fossil fuel consumption) and a $100 rebate cheque for all British Columbians. It is the implementation of the totality of this plan and the economic impact analysis that we need to see before passing final judgment.

In the interim there is no question that in terms of the net financial cost to the forest sector the timing could not be worse. There is no question that the offset measures will have little if any effect and there is no question that the integration of the carbon tax and the cap and trade system for large final emitters should have been implemented simultaneously. There is no question that we do not need a provincial and a (potential) federal carbon tax. Finally, we have accusations that the forest industry has dropped the ball on wood waste bio-energy.

In response I can only say that notwithstanding the economics of the wood waste to power proposition remain an unknown, several forest product companies have stepped up to the plate and have submitted proposals to BC Hydro. The industry has forwarded numerous positive recommendations to government to improve and advance bioenergy power options.

In summary, there is a pretty clear message here. Governments can release policy statements, draft regulations and pass laws all in support of the green cause. But market forces tend to rule and currently we are driven by $130 oil. We would all be better off remembering this first—those of us with long memories will remember the critical flaw in the National Energy Program with its dependence on sustained high oil prices.

Angela McCormack, an interpreter at Manning Park, who first contacted Chris Lear, COFI Northern Operations Forest Education Manager to inquire about obtaining a kit noted: “This year we are doing a really fun program called "Pine Beetle on Trial" where audience members learn about MPB, their life cycle, etc. Volunteers even get to dress up as various animals being called to testify in Critter Court. It's going to be a blast! And the kits will be SO HELPFUL at giving visitors real-life samples of MPB, bark and wood.”

For more information on the Mountain Pine Beetle kits, please contact: Chris Lear, COFI Northern Operations, by phone at: (250) 614-4352 or by e-mail at lear@cofi.org or visit COFI’s Forest Education Website at: www.forest-education.info.

Throughout the spring, the Interior Logging Association's Forest Education van was once again on the road, visiting schools and events in the Thompson, East and West Kootenays and Okanagan-Columbia zones. The van continues to be a big draw with children and members of the public wherever it goes and is a very useful teaching tool to bring understanding about our forests and the forest industry to communities around our province. A forestry student has been hired as a presenter/ driver to keep the forest education van actively touring over the summer months, making visits to Regional and Provincial parks and campgrounds, kids' camps and community events around the Interior.

West Kootenay Forest Education recently hosted a Forest Day celebration in the Castlegar area, with 167 Gr. 5 students and approximately 60 parents, teachers, and volunteers in attendance. Forest educator, Darcee O'Hearn worked with MoF staff to organize this day long event, which included six different stations: the ILA's forest education van, Fire and Protection water relay, Fire Simulation and equipment demonstration, Scavenger hunt using orienteering skills and equipment, a horse logging demonstration, and a watershed exercise called, "Stream Keepers". Chainsaw carving was also on the agenda, with three chainsaw carvings given away following the demonstration.

A new BC-based forestry book for elementary students is now on bookstore shelves, written by Cariboo authors, Kathleen Cook Waldron and Ann Walsh, titled "Forestry A-Z". This alphabetized book contains informative text and colour photos depicting BC forestry in a visually appealing format that will help students to learn about trees and modern forestry. It will no doubt become a very popular and useful resource for elementary teachers and should prove interesting to students for both reading and research.

Career events have been taking place with Southern Interior forest educators taking part in various career fairs, trade exhibits and presentations in their regions. In the East Kootenay, the Industrial Training Authority worked with Tembec, local School Districts and the College of the Rockies to hold a "Yes 2 IT" trades event (Youth Exploring Skills to Industry Training) in Cranbrook. Local forest educator, Jim Jenkinson also worked on the organizing committee. Forty-five grade 8 & 9 students from Cranbrook and Kimberley rotated through a variety of hands-on trade experiences, beginning with a tour of Tembec's Finger Joint Plant before moving on to College of the Rockies campuses in Cranbrook. Participants at the college sites worked with professionals from the carpentry, welding, electrical, and heavy duty mechanical trades, giving them an opportunity to explore why they might want to consider a trades career. Several apprentices were also in attendance to talk about how the students could pursue trade careers while they attended school.

Debbie Bazett with her husband Robert working the ILA Forest Education Van in Kelowna.

Another recent career event was the ILA Trades Convention career fair , organized by Thompson forest educator, Susan Bondar. At the Thompson Rivers University campus in Kamloops, 500 high school students were able to meet post-secondary representatives from Selkirk College (Castlegar), UNBC (Prince George), BCIT (Burnaby), TRU Trades and Natural Resource Science (Kamloops) and NVIT (Merritt). Other participants were the Canadian Women in Timber, Wood Manufacturing Council, BC Timber Sales and the Forest Education Program. Students were also able to speak with potential future employers, view an impressive array of harvesting equipment on site and try out the controls of a heavy duty equipment simulator.

For more information on COFI- South Forest Education, please contact Debbie Bazett by phone at: (250) 860-9663 or by email at: bazett@cofi.org.

	Students from Highglen Elementary School in Prince George, BC prepare to plant what could be BC's 6 billionth tree.

COFI's Doug Routledge and Chris Lear joined the celebration in Prince George at Highglen Elementary School where Grade 5-7 students planted seedlings on the school grounds to replace the lodgepole pine trees destroyed by the Mountain Pine Beetle. It was an exciting time for the students knowing that they were not only making a difference at their school, but that they could be planting the 6 billionth tree.

"This is a staggering accomplishment that all British Columbians should be proud of", noted Dave Wilson of Celtic Reforestation. "At three meter spacing, six billion trees represent a swath of forest that is 1.4 kilometers wide all the way around the planet! This says a lot about the province we live in where the forests are the very root of our existence and are truly a renewable resource if we take care of them in balance with nature."

	Young hands, take extra care to plant seedlings.

In April of this year the Premier and Minister of Forests planted a ceremonial 6th Billionth Tree during COFI's Annual Convention in Kelowna, BC.

For more information on the 6 Billionth Tree planting events, contact: John Betts
WSCA Executive Director
by phone at (250) 229-4380 or by e-mail at:
johnabetts@shaw.ca.

Or contact: Chris Lear, Manager Forest Education, COFI Northern Operations, by phone at: (250) 614-4352 or by e-mail at: lear@cofi.org.

One of the key areas focused was tapping into the potential of bio-energy which is being heavily promoted by provincial government. Over 400 delegates attended the dovetailed three day bio-energy conference with 35 speakers from 20 different countries.

	Jan Ball at the COFI booth.

Thursday's luncheon speaker was Dr. David Fung who provided insights on doing business in China (not “with” he noted). The first step is to know the facts. For example, if one was concerned that China's automotive manufacturing production might achieve North American levels, it's too late. They passed us ten years ago and now produce four times as many vehicles.

Friday's keynote luncheon speaker was Andrew Ramlo, a leading expert on demographics and workforce issues. The aging of Canada's population means that even with historical levels of immigration, it will not appreciably grow. This means that in order for the economy to grow, we need labour productivity growth. Also, growing populations in other parts of the world presents opportunities for our export oriented economy.

Proceedings and presentations are available at the conference websites:
www.bioenergyconference.org
and
www.forestandresources.org.

The next biennial Prince George Forest and Resources Expo will be held June 3-5, 2010.

For more information contact Steve Kozuki, General Manager Forestry, by phone at: (250) 564-5136 or by e-mail at: kozuki@cofi.org.

Since April 1, 2007, BC Timber Sales has required its contractors in road building and reforestation, and those forest companies conducting on-the-ground work on Timber Sale Licences to be registered in the Safety Accord Forestry Enterprise (SAFE Companies) program of the B.C. Forest Safety Council. Effective Jan. 1, 2009, the requirement will move from registration to certification. A company obtains SAFE certification when an audit demonstrates that the company has effectively implemented a health and safety management system that meets the industry set safety standard.

BC Timber Sales is the single largest forestry operator in the province, managing about one-fifth of the province's allowable annual cut. It manages public forest land, issues licences to harvest public timber, and is responsible for reforestation and road construction activities in areas that it manages. Its role is to provide a credible reference point for costs and pricing of timber harvested from public forests in B.C.

For more information go to the BC Timber Sales website:www.for.gov.bc.ca/bcts/.

"Millions of people in China have seen their homes and much of their critical infrastructure devastated by the earthquake and the subsequent aftershocks," said Premier Campbell. "This collaborative project will provide support to address both the immediate and long-term housing needs of the Chinese people, while demonstrating the quality of B.C. wood products."

The project is a collaborative effort between the Government of Canada and the Government of British Columbia. B.C. will provide $5 million and the Government of Canada will contribute $3 million.

Phase one of the project involves constructing temporary wood-frame housing units to help address the immediate housing needs in the areas affected by the earthquake. Phase two of the project involves constructing permanent wood-frame housing and other facilities, including a school and community centre.

As well, long-term Canada-China research partnerships will be established under the current Canada-China bilateral Science and Technology Agreement. Administered by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, the partnerships will focus will on developing and applying earthquake-resistant construction technology to meet the needs of China's affected areas.

Made from 100 per cent Canadian wood, these energy-efficient structures will be assembled in China. Research has shown that wood-frame buildings are a highly suitable construction choice for earthquake-prone regions because of their adaptability and seismic stability.

Delivery of the short-term shelters will begin immediately, with the goal of completing stage one in August 2008. Delivery of the permanent housing and related buildings is expected to begin in the spring of 2009.

Forestry Innovation Investment, China-based staff of the Canada Wood Group, and Canada's forest industry will provide on-the-ground expertise. Staff from these organizations will work with Chinese government officials and local design and construction experts to implement the project, provide technical construction training and ensure the housing units meet local needs.