C6 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 1, 1996

Forestry and the Nisga’a N isga’a gal Nn

WA decade away: All timber within the Nisga’a
Lands boundary ~- 200,000 cubic metres right now — fo r e S
will be owned by the Nisga’a Central Government

eight years after the final treaty is signed. Since it'll

probably be a ycar or more to negotiate a final treaty, REACTION in the forest sector has been mixed since the
that means logging in the Nass — either for the big tentative Nisga’a land claim deal was inked in February.
companies or Jocal loggers ~~ shouldn't change much Although some industry groups have rallied against the
for nearly a decade. deal, northwest forestry companies — who will have to
ta Ultimately: The Nisga’a will determine the annual deal with the Nisga’a — reacted cautiously and in several
allowable cut (AAC) in the Nass that takes effect afler cases positively,
eight years — when they gain ownership. Even Repap — the biggest player in the Nass Valley and
Wi Right now: The Nisga’a and the province will poised ta lose 140,000 cubic metres under the deal — has
determine a new cut rate to start when the treaty takes been upbeat about the future. Repap executives consistent-
effect. If they can’t do a deal, the cut rate will bave to ly predict good relations with the Nisga’a.
remain within 15 per cent of what the forests minister More affected, it appears, are some of the contractors
recommends. That rate will last until three years after that log and haul wood for Skeena Cellulose. They're not
the treaty, part of Repap’s bid for $80 million compensation for its
Mi In between: At the three-year mark, a transilional eer loss in the 1,930 square kilometre lower Nass zone. ge a ee ae se ee See reine Vee
five-year AAC —- to be negotiated by the province and maller outfils expect to gradually be cut out of the ac- tenata a] ;
the Nispa'a — begins that will gradually change the tion in the Nass as Nisga’s-operated firms spring up to PORT OF Stewart could become a busy Place once the Nisga a Ok ne and
cutting rate to what the Nisga’a have decided they want | handle the work. claims treaty that wilt cover a multitude of resource uses. The port already Is a
afier the eight-year mark. Initial reaction suggested Repap’s existing contractors major shipping point for wood logged in the northwest.
Wf Pressure to cut: The system of transfer payments would share the loss of business among them — resulting
to provide governmeal services will discourage any it an eventual 10 to 15 percent lass of work.
dramatic drop in logging, because Oltawa and Victoria Meanwhile, contractors who’ve had good relations with
will be deducting from those payments what the native groups are more comfortable about their prospects
Nisga’a should have been able to collect in stumpage than those who have burned bridges.
— not what they did collect if they didn't log as much. Repap's refusal to include its contractors it its compensa-
@ Three firms affected: Tae companies that will tion demand Ted to some heated words between contractors IE ARO RC
lose their timber in that area are Skeena Cellulose, and company executives. oo,
West Fraser, and Simgan Forest Products. Skeena Cel- Regardless of the outcome of the dispute over compensa- These saws were designed for heavy-duty cutting in big timber.
lulose loses the most — 140,000 cubic. metres or three- oe te nec Bm likely to force Repap to shut down any Although they offer high engine power, they are still relatively
quarters of the imber involved, Much of the area . ; : :
has been heavily cut alrcady, but is recognized as one The 140,000 cubic metres of wood represents less than easy to handle. They also offer the best power-to-weight ratios
of the best growing sites in the region. . 15 per cent of the total amount of wood Repap’s Terrace in their respective categories.
@ Want more, buy it: The Nisga’a can try to buy up sawmill and Prince Rupert pulp mill require. '
to 150,000 cubic metres of wood outside the Nisga’a And that wood will likely continue to flow to the compa-
Lands boundary from existing licensees, The province ny’s mills — it will just be cut at the direction of the
will support in principle such a purchase, but whoever Nisga’a and it may cost Repap a bit more money on the “fat = 3 SE
owns the wood would have to agree to sell it, Any open market than when they owned it themselves. Speciications gE ee ee
transfer has to meet the regular rules of the Forest Act Repap owns or controls about 60 per cent of the fibre it BE £36 28a ae &
and get approval of the forests minister. needs in northwestem B.C. Even with a 140,000 cubic * oe (hee SRe| ces
@ Transition: The Nisza’a and the province are to metre clawback that would be handed to the Nisga’a, STIHL 066 STIHL 066 91.6(5.0(6.8)| 7.3 | 60, 63, 75
prepare a plan to address job losses, fibre Dow con- Repap would still have significantly more secured timber STIHL 084 121.6 |6.3 (8.6); 9.0 - | 63, 75, 90
cems and other transitional measures, holdings than it did a decade ago — thanks to takeovers of a
mw Reforestation: Existing licensees have to meet firms like Buffalo Head Forest Products.
their objigations to replant the areas thal they will lose And in the montis since the deal was announced, Repap
control over, has taken further moves to secure its fibre supply.
i Stumpage: The Nisga’a Central Government will Repap’s proposal to pay $25 million for Orenda Forest
collect stumpage on wood cut in Nisga’a Lands after a Products and its 342,000 cubic metres of wood in the
transitional period. Meziadin area would help make up for the Nisga’a loss,
a Standards: The Nisga’a government will be able But since Repap was already buying 240,000 cubic
to set its own forest management standards, but they metres a year from Orenda in a deal that was to mn out
have to meet or excced the provincial standards, such two years from now, the proposed sale is more about
as the Forest Practices Code, securing its existing wood supply than gaining more.
if Nass sawmill waits: The Nisga’a agree not to es- Most industry observers in the northwest said the
tablish a sawmill in the Nass for at least 10 years. Nisga’a deal by itself looks workable. But they had con-
Mi Compensation: The deal says nothing about com- cerns about the effects if the same provisions were to be
pensation either for big licence halders or smaller sub- extended to other native groups like the Tsimshian, Haisla

contractors. and Gitksan.
@ Working together: The Nisga’a will likely work

out arrangements with the province to provide services

_ | like forest fire suppression, insect and disease control, : / — ; 3 —

, | and possibly items like timber harvesting planning, 7

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