How the solution works
As a condition of their access to Crown timber, sawmills would set aside one percent of their output. This material would be quarter-sawn, clear-grade boards in four thicknesses (as required) and veneer cants.
An agency would be established to collect the set-aside solid material, dry it to high-quality standards, abrasive plane it to stock dimensions and hold it in climate-controlled
warehouses. The agency would contract with industry to provide veneered panels in species compatible with the agency's solid wood inventory.
The agency would make its materials available at cost on long-term, guaranteed-delivery/quality, fixed-price contracts, i.e., supply company X with Z thousand board feet per month for Y years (VCR suggests a minimum of 5 years).
In this way the agency would stimulate new value-created manufacturing ventures with minimal negative impact on established
lumber suppliers.
New manufacturing ventures and expanding plants would have priority access to the materials.
VCR welcomes your feedback on our one per cent solution |
Background
Approximately one per cent of BC lumber sales equals 300,000
cubic metres. At one job per 75 cubic metres, this 300,000 cubic metres
will create 4,000 direct jobs in average furniture plants. Typically a furniture plant employs 20-200 workers, therefore our one per cent solution could create 20-200 new and / or expanded operations.
Caution
The above figures are based on current levels of harvest. According to a recent study titled "How Sustainable Are North American Wood Supplies" by the Austrian-based Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, the BC harvest should be reduced by 10 to 40 per cent to ensure long-term sustainability.
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