Mackenzie, B.C. – In the Mackenzie Natural Resource District, businesses like East Fraser FiberCo. Ltd. (EFF), continue to maximize the recovery and utilization of uneconomical fibre. In collaboration with First Nations and with funding support from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC), incremental fibre – low value pulp logs that would be left after harvesting – were transported from areas outside the economic radius to EFF’s chipping facility in Mackenzie, B.C. This work has brought significant environmental and economic benefits to the community, reducing wildfire risk, lowering greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding the piling and burning of wood, and strengthening local and regional communities and their economies.
“Projects like this demonstrate the real value of working together with First Nations, sector partners, and organizations like the Forest Enhancement Society of BC. This kind of collaboration shows how we can both protect our forests while also strengthening local economies. As we deal with high tariffs and duties, this is another innovative solution that works for people and communities in B.C.,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests
Over the last decade, EFF has worked with local First Nations to increase fibre utilization, primarily harvesting beetle-damaged stands. In 2020, EFF entered into a wood purchase agreement with Sasuchan Development Corporation and purchased a portion of the volume from their Non-Replaceable Forest Licence within the Mackenzie Forest District. Later, in 2024, EFF collaborated with OBO Forest Management LP, the forest management company for the Kwadacha First Nation, to deliver low value pulp logs from their licences around Williston Lake to EFF’s whole log chipper.
The volume was brought to EFF directly via logging trucks and by log booms towed down Williston Lake. The pulp logs were consumed by their chip plant in Mackenzie, where they were chipped and sold to pulp mills. Residuals from the chipping process were used for bioenergy production. FESBC funds were used to offset the delivery cost of the combined volume harvested, which equated to 1,420 truckloads.
“Without FESBC funding, transporting residual fibre from beyond the economic radius, would not have been economically viable,” noted Ante Cirko, Vice President, EFF.
The total project funding from FESBC was $1,545,000, which helped to cover the additional costs of delivering the wood fibre instead of piling and burning it at roadside.
“Recovering and utilizing low-value fibre brings important environmental benefits. Not only does it reduce open piling burning and the corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, but it also reduces potential fuel for forest fires,” explained Chris McGourlick, FESBC Operations Manager, adding that avoided emissions total 18,750 tonnes of carbon dioxide over the long term.
“It’s a win-win situation for everyone,” added Cirko. “This also provides a perfect example of how investing taxpayer dollars to improve utilization has a spinoff benefit of reducing fuel loading for potential wildfires. At the end of the day, as a result of partnerships with First Nations and support from FESBC, damaged stands were harvested and reforested, placing land back into production for the benefit of future generations.”
Photos: (Left) Unloading dewatered pulp logs at East Fraser Fiber’s chip plant. (Middle) East Fraser Fiber pulp log deck. (Right) Chips produced at East Fraser Fiber’s whole log chip plant in Mackenzie, ready to ship to customers. Photo credits: East Fraser Fiber.
This work also helped supply needed fibre to secondary processing facilities, supporting local contractors and economies. Among the jobs supported by this project were loggers and road maintenance crews, handling and transportation crews, chip plant and mill yard workers, as well as forestry and administration staff.
“FESBC’s support strengthened fibre supply chains and helped build resilience for local communities and the broader forest sector. Using those funds to move pulp logs out of the forest protects a lot of jobs in the primary sector,” noted Cirko. “As an industry and province, there needs to be continuous improvement to stay not only sustainable environmentally, but competitive globally. This requires us to look at the fibre in the forest and think of how we can use it in the most efficient way.”
Mackenzie Mayor Joan Atkinson further noted the impact of EFF’s projects on the community’s economic stability.
“As our longest operating fibre processor, EFF has been a cornerstone of Mackenzie’s forest sector for decades, demonstrating loyalty to our town and protecting jobs that our community relies on. Their commitment to innovation, sustainability, and collaboration with Indigenous partners has helped keep our community strong. This work demonstrates that environmental responsibility can go hand in hand with economic opportunity.”
EFF has been an active collaborator in the Mackenzie area, facilitating the utilization of low-value fibre with numerous industry partners and stakeholders, including First Nations. Through this work, EFF has built strong relationships rooted in trust, openness, and a shared commitment to protect the environment.
“We are a relatively small company that does not hold a Forest Licence, so it was important for us to work closely with stakeholders at all levels, especially First Nations as the stewards of the land,” said Cirko. “By working together from the start, we have learned from them and how they use their resources, and they’ve also been able to understand our business perspective. Because they are at the table, we can make decisions together and move projects more efficiently. We are not successful unless our First Nations partners are successful.”
Looking ahead, EFF remains dedicated to strengthening partnerships that bring economic, social, and environmental benefits to Mackenzie and surrounding communities. The company is continuously exploring innovative ways to utilize low-value fibre, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and better protect communities from wildfire risk.
“In 1990, we built the whole log chip plant in Mackenzie to recover logging waste and supply the local pulp mill with chips. Increased utilization was the right thing to do then, and even more so today,” said Pat Glazier, Owner, EFF.
For an interview with the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, contact:
Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison Direct: 250 574 0221 | communications@fesbc.ca
About FESBC: the purposes of FESBC are to advance environmental and resource stewardship of B.C.’s forests by – preventing and mitigating the impact of wildfires; improving damaged or low-value forests; improving habitat for wildlife; supporting the use of fibre from damaged and low-value forests; and treating forests to improve the management of greenhouse gases. FESBC has been granted millions of dollars in funding from the government of B.C. to support hundreds of projects, to date, throughout the province.
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FESBC would like to gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Forests.