B.C. association broadens its vision for forest protection

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     NANAIMO, BC - The Coast Forest and Lumber Association (CFLA), which represents BC's coastal forest industry, will broaden a 10-year vision strategy developed by three leading forest companies to make it an industry-wide initiative.

   
At the Vancouver Island Economic Summit in Nanaimo, the responsibility for an industry-developed strategy was handed off to the CFLA, one year after an unprecedented coming together of three major forest companies. Recognizing that the status quo was not an option, three competitors-International Forest

Products (Interfor), TimberWest Forest Corp. and Weyerhaeuser Company Limited- came together last year to develop a shared vision of what a rejuvenated coastal forest industry could look like in 10 years.

    In Embracing a New Vision: Rebuilding BC's Coastal Forest Industry, the leaders of these companies issued a 10-point call to action for all industry players to collectively address the problems plaguing one of BC's top economic

generators.

   
On the one-year anniversary marking the strategy's release, the CFLA has announced that it will build on the foundation provided by the 10-point plan to make a strong rejuvenated coastal industry a reality.

   
"It was the unprecedented leadership and vision of Duncan Davies of Interfor, Paul McElligott of TimberWest, and Craig Neeser of Weyerhaeuser that developed this strategy to revitalize the coast," said Rick Jeffery, President

and CEO of the Coast Forest and Lumber Association.

    "The CFLA welcomes the challenge of implementing this vision throughout the industry," Jeffery added. "Good progress has been made and now it's up to all coastal companies to continue the work that has begun." Jeffery also noted that a healthy forest sector is integral to funding health care, education and social programs in British Columbia.

   
To mark the first year of the strategy, Davies, McElligott and Neeser have released a status report on the progress made in achieving the 10-point plan.

   
The companies note that over the past year, $100 million has been invested by companies to revitalize the industry, but they caution that a rising Canadian dollar could set the industry back as it tries to gain secure access to the U.S. market and regain lost ground in Japan.

    The vision strategy sets out 10 goals:

        -  World-class mills

        -  A vibrant, growing, value-added industry

        -  Brand-name products and expanded markets

        -  Worldwide respect for environmental leadership

        -  Successful resolution of land use issues

        -  World-class safety performance

        -  More full-time, stable jobs

        -  Workers leaving the industry are treated with dignity and respect

        -  More opportunities for small businesses

        -  Forest policies that benefit all British Columbians

    As the voice of the harvesting and lumber manufacturing companies who operate in BC's coastal forest industry, the Coast Forest & Lumber Association represents 25 companies producing 95% of the lumber in coastal British

Columbia.

For further information: Rick Jeffery, President and CEO, Coast Forest &  Lumber Association, Telephone: (604) 891-1237, info@cfla.org; International  Forest Products (Interfor), Steve Crombie, (604) 689-6806; TimberWest Forest

Corp., Virginia Aulin, (604) 654-4634; Weyerhaeuser Company Limited, Sarah  Goodman, (604) 661-8408