Mission’s forestry department nearly doubled its forecasted net profit for 2024.
However, challenges could be on the horizon.
Forestry director Chris Gruenwald presented a quarterly report to council on Monday (March 17) that also reviewed last year as a whole.
Gruenwald’s report says the warmer winter weather and lack of snowfall are concerning as wildfire season approaches on April 1.
“The department will work closely with our partners, including Mission Fire Rescue Service and BC Wildfire Service, to ensure we are well prepared for the 2025 wildfire season,” the report reads.
Uncertainty around tariffs on softwood lumber that could negatively impact timber markets is also a major concern.
“If these continue into 2025 and beyond, we’re likely facing a North America-wide recession which will absolutely impact timber markets and our profitability moving forward,” Gruenwald said.
According to the report, the department will continue to monitor the situation and strategically release timber sales when there is a temporary spike in markets.
“As 2025 is the second year of the current five-year cut control period, there is flexibility in terms of reducing harvest levels in 2025 and deferring some of this cut to a more opportunistic time,” the report reads.
Gruenwald said the department will have to work with other levels of government to address the situation.
“We absolutely have the best timber in the world and there will always be demand for it. Whether the U.S. wants it or not, other people will,” Gruenwald said.
Despite the challenges, forestry remained profitable in 2024 and is off to a good start in 2025.
The department’s net profit of $621,186 for 2024 eclipsed the $327,433 forecasted for the year. The positive results are partially due to harvesting the bulk of the volumes from two timber sales from July through September.
The profitable 2024 comes after a record-setting 2023 for the forestry department. The City of Mission's tree farm reached a record-breaking $7.5 million in net profit from timber he said sales in 2023.
Meanwhile, Gruenwald the winning bid for a timber sale in February 2025 came in at over $2 million.
Previous forestry profits have resulted in contributions towards the Boswyck Seniors Centre, a portable mill at Mission Secondary School and a CT Scanner for Mission Memorial Hospital.
Gruenwald also updated council on the Stave West forest and recreation area. The department completed the 14km ‘Rolli-Olli-Polli’ trail connecting the Rolley Lake and Devils Lake loop trails and started a new trail to Mt. Crickmer expected to be completed in 2025.
The expansion of the Kearsley Creek campsites also began, with a 60-site expansion expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
