RCFC receives funding for unemployed forest workers
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Updated: September 22, 2009 10:47 AM
With the downturn in the forest industry at the end of 2008 and the increasing layoffs it became evident work had to be found to keep employees in town. During a Forest Worker Society meeting, the opportunity for funding to hire unemployed forest workers was presented. Alan Mason (Director of Community Economic Development) helped coordinate the application process and a plan was created to completing enhanced silviculture on TFL 56.
Vegetation management is considered an enhanced silvicultural activity which is completed on areas where the licensee has already met their silvicultural obligations. Deciduous trees are girdled or fallen to provide light for the understorey conifer trees. Girdling is done by hand tools or power saws where a strip of bark and cambium is removed from the tree bole to kill the tree. Over time the tree branches break off and eventually the tree falls over, minimizing damage to the conifers below. The expected outcomes are to have a healthy, vigourous plantation. This will provide future employment in the form of pruning, commercial thinning and eventual harvest of the area.
RCFC hired five unemployed forest workers in the beginning of July. Their past employment varied from machine operator or mill employees to fallers and buckermen. They have been doing an excellent job and have just completed their first block. The plan is to work into December, let’s hope too much snow doesn’t fly until then.
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