Exploring Interfor's Tree Farm License 38 in Squamish
Coffee Stop at Shannon Falls
We started the tour off with a stop at Shannon Falls, BC's third-highest waterfall (1,105 feet/335 m). Gordon Prescott of Interfor -- our host for the day -- brought coffee and muffins and teachers had an opportunity to view the falls and the surrounding old growth forest. After taking in the falls, teachers were led in short regime of tree tai chi and before Gordon started into his overview of the day's activities.
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Squamish
Lumber Dry Sort Yard
From the falls we made a short trek to Squamish Lumber's dry sort yard where Gordon and Bruno Lanter discussed how logs go from the forest to the mills. Species being cut on the Tree Farm License (TFL) #38 is douglas fir, red cedar, hemlock, balsam, yellow cedar, pine, spruce, alder, and cottonwood.
Trucks come in from harvesting sites and are unloaded by a Letourneau log stacker, which spreads them out in the sort yard. The logs are scaled (using a scale stick) for length and diameter, their volume is calculated. This data as well as species is entered into and tracked by computer. Logs are tagged for grading purposes. Some manufacturing is done on site - a particular log may be bucked and the pieces sorted to different grades to maximize return on particular logs. Then logs are sorted to go to particular mills.
Loaders then put the sorted logs into racks where they are banded with cables and then unloaded by the Letourneau into the water where small boom boats assemble log booms (consisting of boom sticks 66ft long connected by chains that contain the logs) of the same species and grade destined for the same sawmill. Once a boom is completed, it is towed by water to the sawmill. B.C. mills are designed to receive logs via water.
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Tree
Farm License #38
From Squamish we traveled to Tree Farm License #38 managed by International Forest Products Limited (Interfor). Gordon talked about the Tree Farm License system of Canada and described how Interfor was managing TFL #38 in view of economic, ecological, and social consideration.
The first stop in TFL #38 was a former helicopter landing site at milepost 29.5 along the Squamish River. From this site, we had a good vantage of several harvested sites on the slopes across the river and got a sense of the consideration taken towards minimizing the visual impact of harvesting. Because of the broken, uneven topography, Interfor harvested small blocks using a helicopter. Sawyers go into the stands and fell the trees and then the resulting logs are attached to cables which allow them to be carried out by helicopter to the landing (where we were standing) where they could be loaded onto a truck and shipped to the mill. Helicopters relieve the need to construct roads in sensitive areas and are able to efficiently carry out a lot of logs with little impact to the remaining trees.
From the Canada Ministry of Forest, Squamish Forest District Fact Sheet:
Tree farm license (TFL) 38 is held by International Forest Products Ltd. (Interfor) and administered by the Squamish Forest District. It is located on the mainland coast, with its southern boundary approximately 32 kilometers north of Squamish.
The total area of TFL 38 is 189,402 hectares, 72 per cent of which is non-forested, steep, mountainous terrain and ice-fields. Approximately 60,723 hectares, 28 per cent of the TFL area, is considered productive forest land and the current timber harvesting land base is estimated at 35,541 hectares (the difference accounts for factors such as streamside protection, wildlife and old growth reserves, roads and economic feasibility). Approximately 68 per cent of the operable forest area is mature forest dominated by western hemlock, balsam, and western red cedar.
TFL 38 includes the watersheds of the Elaho and Ashlu rivers and the balance of the Squamish River system. The Elaho River is fed by two large secondary drainages, Sims Creek and Clendenning Creek.
The allowable annual cut (AAC) for TFL 38 is currently 250,000 cubic meters (2000, it was reduced by 12,500 cubic meters in August 1998 due to the creation of Clendenning provincial park). A portion of the AAC for TFL 38 is devoted to the Ministry of Forests’ Small Business Forest Enterprise Program (13,000 cubic meters). Based on the current level of AAC, it would take another 60 to 70 years to log all the available old growth within the TFL; however, second growth stands will begin to be ready for harvest in the next five years, offsetting the impact on old growth. In addition, old growth is protected forever within parks, streamside reserve zones and inoperable areas.
Before harvesting takes place, Interfor must obtain forest district approval of its plans to ensure compliance with the Forest Practices Code and other applicable legislation. The plans are made available for review and comment to all resource agencies, First Nations and the general public.
Reforestation
By law, tree farm license holders must reforest all its harvesting sites. About 400,000 seedlings are planted on 300 hectares each year in the TFL. In addition, Interfor is actively spacing and pruning as part of a Forest Renewal BC project.
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Lunch Stop
We
stopped for lunch at a site overlooking the Elaho River. Teachers were provided
with box lunches and could enjoy a picturesque view of the valley from where
they sat.
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