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British Columbia’s independent forest practices watchdog says future timber supplies in the province are at stake and the Liberal government needs to get moving on management plans for pine beetle and fire damaged forests.

A Forest Practices Board report released Tuesday concludes up to two million hectares of Interior forests could be left insufficiently restocked for future use while the government considers replanting the forests.

“Decisions about whether to replant areas where mountain pine beetle and fire have killed most of the trees will have an impact on the future timber supply in the B.C. Interior,” said board chairman Al Gorley in a statement following the release of the report.

“At a minimum, if nature is left to take its course, the eventual crop of timber in those areas will be delayed,” said the statement.

From The Calgary Herald: http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/all/forest+board+says+future+timber+supply+risk+raises+alarm/6844714/story.html