Silvacom Ltd. is excited to announce the release of a new report: B.C. Forest Leadership: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Wildfire Risk while Increasing Fibre Utilization and Jobs.
This report is the result of a year-long collaboration between the BC Pulp and Paper Coalition (including its members and industry representatives), Foresight Canada, the BC First Nations Forestry Council, and MJ Rensing Consulting—with Silvacom leading as facilitator and report author.
Drawing on significant data and feedback from B.C.’s Ministry of Forests, Ministry of Energy and Low Carbon Solutions, and Natural Resources Canada, the report underscores how strategic fibre recovery and climate-smart forestry can help B.C.’s forest sector meet its toughest challenges, while also creating new economic opportunities and real climate benefits.
Special thanks to Natural Resources Canada, Foresight Canada (via the BC Net Zero Innovation Network), and the BC Pulp and Paper Coalition for funding and supporting this initiative.
Turning Waste into Opportunity
B.C.’s forest industry is facing significant challenges. Mill closures, wood supply constraints, severe wildfire seasons, and the pressure to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have put the sector, and the communities that depend on it, at a pivotal crossroads.
Despite current fibre supply challenges, there exists a significant and largely untapped resource hiding in plain sight: waste fibre from logging operations and stands damaged by wildfire or insects. Historically, much of this material has been left to rot or burned in slash piles which ultimately send millions of tonnes of CO₂ into the atmosphere each year.
The B.C. Forest Leadership report dives deep into how B.C. can turn this challenge into an advantage. By improving fibre utilization, the forest sector can not only support rural and Indigenous economies but also reduce wildfire risk and help advance B.C.’s low-carbon future
What’s the Waste Fibre Opportunity?
The numbers speak for themselves:
- Over 2 million cubic metres of logging slash are left unused in B.C. forests every year, and around 215 million cubic metres of standing timber is wildfire- or insect-damaged province-wide.
- Harnessing this fibre could support B.C.’s sustainable timber harvest target (45 million m³/year), while bolstering supply for established and emerging industries.
- More than 3,000 jobs could be created, many of them in rural and Indigenous communities, by expanding fibre recovery and supporting value-added and bioeconomy initiatives.
- Reducing roadside burning could cut up to 1.1 MtCO₂e in annual emissions—the climate equivalent of taking 250,000 cars off the road.
Beyond the numbers, these actions would strengthen sector competitiveness, help diversify local economies, and directly support CleanBC’s climate goals.
Policy Roadmap for Real Change
In addition to quantifying the extent of the fibre opportunity in B.C., the report outlines phased recommendations to help B.C. make the most of its fibre resources:
- Short term: Increase funding for recovery initiatives, speed up salvage permitting, and set up a dedicated stakeholder task force.
- Medium term: Provide targeted equipment grants, introduce utilization tax credits, and adjust timber sales criteria to reward full-fibre recovery.
- Longer term: Develop made-in-B.C. carbon offset protocols for avoided slash burning and further explore innovative bioenergy options.
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Setting B.C. Up for Forest Sector Resilience
Silvacom is proud to have played a role in bringing these ideas and partners together. Our hope is that this work will inspire bold action from governments, industry, and communities to position B.C. as a leader in the forest bioeconomy.
Ready to dive deeper?
The full B.C. Forest Leadership Report, including methodology, findings, and recommendations, is available for download on Foresight Canada’s website.
