Up to 3,000 jobs could be lost across north-central British Columbia because of pine beetle infestation, according to a study by the Canadian Forest Service (CFS).
The research shows beetle damage will cause a big drop in lumber revenue in Quesnel, Prince George and Burns Lake, with the region’s economy possibly being reduced by up to 10%.
Senior CFS economist Bill White believes logging all the infested wood would boost the economy, but this would end as timber supplies fall. He predicts logging could drop by 40% in some areas.
