Ainsworth Engineered Canada LP sees positive steps reflected in the report recently released by the province's Special Committee on Timber Supply, including some of its own recommendations.
Mike Kennedy, Ainsworth's BC Timberlands forestry manager, had addressed the committee at the 100 Mile House hearing in July.
He says the committee had a "very difficult job" in its mandate to come up with recommendations that would cover a broad range of interests in British Columbia's forests.
"Overall, we are very pleased with the recommendations, and with respect to Ainsworth's interests, particularly the ones around forest utilization."
The committee's recommendation to create new types of forest tenure was one Ainsworth found "very encouraging," Kennedy adds.
"A supplemental forest licence is of particular interest to Ainsworth as an opportunity to better facilitate utilization of some of the fibre that's out there right now."
He explains another positive action for the forest company the committee has advised involves a potential for creating a fibre-based annual allowable cut (AAC) pilot.
"We feel 100 Mile House would be an ideal area to implement that type of an AAC pilot, particularly because the timber supply review is just getting off the ground right now."
Ainsworth also has specific interest in the committee's suggestion for a review of the legislation policies and administrative framework around forest utilization, Kennedy says.
"That was very central in our presentation, and we made it very clear that the long-term future of Ainsworth's OSB plant is dependant on acquisition of forest tenure for the long term."
He explains the organization also sees opportunity in the report for development of this kind of tenure to harvest and use more of the fibre that currently gets burned, or otherwise goes to waste.
"There are building blocks for what could be [realized] in the forest industry in 100 Mile House."
Kennedy adds the forest company is in support of "anything the government can take on" that will increase utilization of the existing forest land base and timber.
There is a "lot of wood" left in waste and cull piles under existing harvest operations, he says, adding Ainsworth believes a significant opportunity exists for using that in both its own, and other manufacturing operations.
"We'd much rather see that [fibre] get put to a manufacturing use, employ people and create wealth in the South Cariboo than we would to see it burned."
Much could be consumed at Ainsworth's OSB plant in 100 Mile House, but Kennedy explains there's also additional fibre out there that could potentially be used for other purposes.
"As we said in our presentation, much of that starts with ensuring that we're utilizing the fibre from existing operations right now, before we start to expand the land base into other, non-traditional harvesting areas."
However, he also sees potential for expanding Ainsworth's operations to encompass fibre beyond its existing standard of utilization that sees wood going into the OSB plant.
"That possibility is always out there, but is largely dependant on the availability of fibre supply."
While the "most important" aspect remains seeing fibre for OSB production right now, Kennedy says beyond that, the more fibre that can be used, the better.
He adds that overall, the committee handled its assigned task well.
"I think they did a good job of balancing maintenance of non-timber resources with recognition of the importance of the forest industry across the Interior, particularly in the Mountain Pine Beetle zone.
"I would congratulate them for taking a balanced approach and putting some thoughtful ideas out there based on a very broad range of input that they received during the hearings."