GENERAL ConcLusIOns

Even under normal conditions, the great extent of the
Region and the breadth over which lumbering operations—
more particularly in north-central British Columbia—are
spread, coupled with the fire-hazards of lightning, railway
locomotives, and campers, make it difficult enough to
provide protection for the accessible and more productive
areas. Between the conservation of the greater ultimate
wealth and the tangible immediate return, the choice—
human nature being what it is—will be obvious. The
protection of the forests of these hinterlands is more than
a local problem; it is a national problem, the solution of
which calls for the utmost in Federal support.

What is true of northern British Columbia is equally
true of northern Alberta and the rest of the North Pacific
Region. The responsibility of the provinces is the adminis
tration, maintenance, and protection of the forest areas so

faras their means permit. Federal responsibility goes deeper
—to the very roots of the common weal.

There appears to be, in north-central and northern
British Columbia, northern Alberta, the Yukon, and the
Mackenzie Valley, nearly 100,000,000,000 board feet of
merchantable timber, of which about one-third, or more
than 30,000,000,000 board feet, may be
present accessible.

Of this total of 100,000,000,000 feet, perhaps
50,000,000,000 feet may be regarded as beyond the range
of effective protection and development by the established
machinery of local government. In addition, extensive
burned-over areas are under regeneration. Under full
protection, the forests of the North Pacific Region are

undoubtedly capable of development to twice their present
estimated reserve.

regarded as at

The situation, as it affects not only British Columbia but
the whole ‘North Pacific Region, is well summarized by
F. D. Mulholland, formerly of the British Columbia Forest
Service, in his work The Forest Resources of British Columbia:

On the Coast not only is reforestation unsatisfactory but the
rapid expansion of industries is making it apparent that it will be
impossible to avoid a conflict between the desire of private interests
to utilize all the mature stands as quickly as markets can be found
for timber, and the public interest which requires that great basic
industries dependent on natural resources should be regulated on a
permanent basis. Increased effort should be made to conserve the
remaining virgin timber by reduction of waste, because the Coast
forests are now being overcut in relation to the rate of replacement
by growth. In the interior, local regulation of the cut is needed

but the more urgent requirement is better protection from fire
and insect damage.

The same authority goes on to say:

In the interior there has been no great expansion of industry
similar to that on the Coast nor does it seem likely that there will be

a demand which will strain the productive capacity of the forests,
at any rate until increased population and improved conditions on
the western prairies provide a much better market or until shortage
of pulp supplies in other regions makes the establishment of pulp
mills possible....... Conservation of interior forests for the present
demands better protection more urgently than regulation of the cut.

The physiography and climate of a large part of the
North Pacific Region make it essentially a forest country,
potentially one of the greatest, in a world of rapid forest
depletion. While it is impracticable at this time to attempt
to bring these far-flung forest reserves under full manage-
ment, it is vital that they be protected in both merchantable
stands and forest lands under natural reforestation.

While it is not within the province of this report to
offer detailed recommendations with respect to technical

matters, some lines are suggested along which Federal policy
might be directed: ©

1. Co-operation in mapping the forest areas and areas
capable of reforestation, such maps to be based on air
photographs in conjunction with a project of spot surveys.
The Federal Government might initiate the project for the
Northwest and Yukon Territories, offering its facilities
for extension of the work into northern British Columbia

and Alberta in co-operation with the Provincial Govern
ments.

2. Concurrent conferences between Federal and pro-
vincial administrations to determine the directions along
which extended co-operation might proceed.

3. The provision and maintenance of aircraft of suitable
type and in adequate numbers, manned by specially trained
crews and based on selected landing fields throughout the
area during the season of fire-hazard. This work might
be co-ordinated with the training and other Operations
proposed in the area by the Departments of National Defence
for Air and for Army. Fire patrol and protection might
be integrated with the work of the military services, thus
making their system of posts, airfields, aircraft, communica-
tions, field forces, ete.—in short, the whole military machin-

ery of Air and Army—a part of the economic as well as
the physical defence project.

4. The establishment and servicing of a comprehensive

system of lookout stations throughout the North Pacific
Region.

5. The reservation of forest areas in the Liard Valley and
its tributary valleys in British Columbia, in agreement with
the provincial authorities concerned, and in the Yukon
and Northwest Territories, having as objectives the preser-
vation, protection, and ultimate permanent forest manage-
ment of these areas as a national reserve of timber in the
future development of the Mackenzie Valley.

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