At a special tour of the Knife Creek Forest south of Williams Lake, visitors got to glimpse current research aimed at finding sustainable alternatives for the forestry industry.
The University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Alex Fraser Research Forest (AFRF) team has been testing a new approach to harvesting since January to determine its viability for the forest industry in British Columbia.
“It’s a different style and scale of harvesting,” said Rick Walters, the interim manager of the AFRF.
The highlight of this research, and what visitors got to witness, is the operation of the Malwa 560C, a high performing machine used to harvest and transport wood. Originating from Sweden, the Malwa offers a more European approach to forestry, allowing teams to use a more selective method when harvesting.
“Smaller equipment gives you an opportunity to pick and choose,” Walters said, explaining how the Malwa allows the team to leave trees expected to strengthen the forest’s ecosystem untouched, and removing those which hinder their growth.
This approach to logging is expected to leave room for strong, healthy forests to grow, thereby helping to reduce the risk of wildfires, enhance deer habitat and recover biomass. It is also expected to reduce costs by requiring smaller amounts of diesel as well as to help with carbon sequestration.
Walters said the research is a way to “augment” existing research known as the Kantelberg Trials taking place at UBC’s Malcolm Knapp Research Forest in Maple Ridge.
The project is aimed at building a sustainable approach to forest management by restoring ecological balance and enhancing carbon sequestration. Led by forestry experts Dr. Suzanne Simard and Dr. Dominik Roeser, the Kantelberg Trials consider how forests which have historically been rich in diversity and now reduced to monocultures, respond to different forestry methods which prioritize forest health.
About 30 people attended the tour at Knife Creek, including folks from local industry, wildfire risk reduction and the Ministry of Forests, as well as the owner of the Swedish company which makes the Malwa.
"It’s a way to showcase what this machine can do,” Walters said about the tour. “To demonstrate what’s possible and to perhaps inspire change.”
Indeed, Walters said there seems to be a real interest in change. The tour, he said, "sparked some positive feedback" and resulting in interesting discussion.
The Malwa, which began operations in the Knife Creek Forest in January, will continue to operate into the spring, and a report on the research is expected to be completed in the summer.
