The mountain pine beetle has always been a natural element of British Columbia’s interior pine forests. British Columbia continues to look for ways to capture the economic value of trees affected by this epidemic while respecting other values.

Mountain pine beetles affect pine trees by laying eggs under the bark. The beetles carry a fungus that leave a blue or grey stain but this has no effect on the wood’s strength properties. The epidemic is also creating new opportunities for communities through the emerging bioenergy industry and through development of new and innovative uses for beetle wood, including value-added opportunities such as glue-laminated (glulam) products and cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels. The timber can be used for anything from standard framing lumber to value-added wood products.

Provincial law requires logged areas to be reforested and managed for multiple values until the young forests are well established. This means that in areas where beetle- and fire-affected timber is being salvaged, forest licensees will be planting ecologically suitable, native species to grow in their place. Overall, about 20% of these forests will be intentionally left as they are for economic or environmental reasons.

The highest priority sites are those that are productive for growing trees and also support wildlife habitat, water, fisheries and other forest values. Planting seedlings in a site where mature trees are dead can help prevent erosion and ensure proper water flow, while helping to restore wildlife habitat and biodiversity at the landscape level.

Did you know?
The Richmond Olympic Oval’s innovative wood wave roof panel system utilizes one million board feet of dimension lumber affected by the mountain pine beetle infestation in B.C.’s Interior, showing that the wood remains structurally sound and attractive.