B.C.'s forestry industry warns of trees lost to forest fires

Industry groups say recent wildfires have destroyed large areas of B.C.'s forests and that reforestation funding is uncertain as a federal planting program ends.

B.C.'s forestry sector is raising concern about trees lost to recent forest fires and the province's ability to replant them. Industry representatives reported that years of record wildfires have removed large areas of forest. Replanting obligations remain a legal requirement after harvesting, but funding for reforestation is now uncertain as a federal planting program is ending. The provincial government has arranged funding to plant about 100 million trees over the next three years. Key points: - Officials reported that recent wildfires have destroyed large swaths of forest across B.C. - Current status: reforestation funding is uncertain and industry capacity is reported to be shrinking, affecting contractors and nurseries. - Next step: the federal Two Billion Trees program is being scrapped, while B.C. has funding in place to plant roughly 100 million trees over the next three years. Summary: The loss of trees to wildfires is putting pressure on reforestation capacity and industry funding. The immediate outlook includes uncertainty after the federal planting program ends, with provincial funding covering a portion of planned planting for the coming three years.