The Quebec Forest Industry Council (CIFQ) is aware that the province is facing historic fires. Almost a million hectares of forest have already been affected this year and many fires are still active in the hinterland.
While protecting communities and infrastructure remains a priority, the scale of the disaster also requires swift action to preserve the value of Quebec’s timber, said Jean-François Samray, President and CEO of CIFQ.
This photo, taken from the air last week, shows the fire burning in the Mistissini sector in northern Quebec.
Photo: Radio Canada
He points out that it is up to the state to contract out forests on public land to logging companies for timber harvesting. In the event of major disturbances to forest massifs, such as fires or spruce budworm infestations, Quebec law provides for the implementation of special plans.
If these plans come into effect, entrepreneurs and businesses will have to shut down operations, move the machines and harvest where they’re supposed to go, explains Mr Samray.
Nature doesn’t wait
According to the CIFQ, decisions must be made at very short notice before the wood is altered too much. The special feature is that nature already has a head start over industries. Insects that feed on burned wood don’t wait for permission, argues Jean-François Samray.
In the world of longhorns in particular, bureaucracy is absent. The insect does not require the Society for the Protection of Forests from Fire (SOPFEU) approval to enter burnt areas, an environment that favors its growth. Once properly installed, it will chew, eat, lay eggs, and degrade the quality of the wood.
“It will be critical for the industry that the Ministry moves too quickly into ‘special plans’ mode and establishes harvest areas as soon as possible. »
– A quote from Jean-François Samray, President and CEO of the Forest Industry Council
The biggest challenge is maintaining the quality of the resource. Because even after a major fire, the wood remains changeable. However, if it is not harvested on time, the possibilities of processing and with it its value decrease.
Longhorn beetles have jaws that allow them to burrow through wood. These insects can therefore reproduce in burnt areas.
Photo: CBC/Markus Schwabe
The wood decomposes and can no longer be used to craft the structure. We can make picnic tables and fences, but it can no longer be used to build houses, says Mr. Samray. It’s a matter of weeks, not months or years.
Mr Samray reminds that companies also have a minimum level of preparation for transporting their equipment and must ensure they have access to the sectors allocated to them by specific plans.
The government has mentioned financial aid plans to help businesses meet demand. Especially since some companies could lose revenue given the impact of these extraordinary measures on their harvest schedule.
According to SOPFEU, the burned areas will remain risky for some time.
Photo: André Michel
safety first
On the part of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests, the priority is to fight the forest fires that are raging on the territory of Quebec. As for the special plans, everything is currently being analyzed, but no timeline has been given.
In a press conference last Friday, Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina made essentially the same comments. However, she was aware of the aspects that the industry values. We will give priority to this wood, we can’t wait until next year. It has to happen now, she said.
For its part, SOPFEU reiterates that returning to the burned areas involves significant risks and that it will take some time before the special plans allow a return to harvesting activities.
Maïté Blanchette Vézina, Quebec Minister of Natural Resources and Forests, at a press conference last Friday
Photo: Radio Canada / Sylvain Roy Roussel
You have to go there safely, even with controlled fire there are threats, emphasizes spokesman Josée Poitras. In his opinion, there is little chance that harvesting activities will be possible until a fire is officially declared extinguished.
The organization is also aware of the dangers that the longhorned beetle poses to stocks. According to SOPFEU, the favorable period extends over 12 to 18 months, which the Forest Industry Council considers too long.
In undisturbed forests where no special plans are in place, Quebec plans to permit forestry activities as soon as possible. This was already the case on Monday morning in certain sections of the Côte-Nord, Mauricie and Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean.