What do you do with a dead pine tree? Good question and one that British Columbia’s forest management professionals are facing at the moment and for years to come. Recent reports suggest that the dead trees emit high levels of gases being held responsible, in part at least, for the current global warming crisis that is changing the Earth in ways that leave humans seemingly helpless to cope or effect visible positive change on the effects of the warming planet on processes many thought unchangeable.

Many have recently suggested that the dead forests be cut down, over a period of years and turned into wood products or bioenergy in order to reduce the levels of carbon being released by British Columbia’s dead forests. Yet, research conducted in a study north of Prince George last year by B.C. scientists suggests that beetle-killed forests that are salvage logged emit up to six times as much carbon as they would if they were left to stand. Obviously, more research needs to be done to determine the truth of these ideas, and to find other possible uses for the dead forests, we need to think our way through this situation, not react emotionally to the fear were all feeling as British Columbian’s.

The data in the above studies was obtained by computer modeling of the parameters concerning the present situation in British Columbia’s forests so there will always be a margin of error. The studies need to be verified by repetition, by independent scientists conducting similar or the same research studies, to determine the viability of the data obtained. We don’t want to jump to any hasty decisions that may make things worse, were just not sure, and maybe irreversible.

The problem of beetle-killed timber is a large one, one that isn’t going away soon, the one thing we do need to do immediately is to begin to plan for revitalizing planting of trees in the province. Makes one wonder why we need to revitalize planting at a time when you think it should be foremost on the minds of forest professionals tasked with managing British Columbia’s forests. What have they been doing?

Obviously, the pine beetle epidemic isn’t the only problem on the minds of British Columbia’s forest professionals; it’s just one part of the developing forest health-check problem of additional pests, diseases, the changing environment, and fire, the effects of all of which appear to be increased as a result of global warming.

British Columbian’s need to bond together in this fight to save our forests, forest heritage, and future, to work together toward the common goal of saving the province and providing a future for our children.

So, I guess its time to get back to work.