Projects

Conifer Oils Modeling

  • Forest Estate Modeling
  • Risk Analysis
  • Other
Project Number
145.001
Sub-project Number
144.001
Project Leader
Jason Smith
Client Code
145
Client
Great Bear Initiative Society
Interests
Government, Industry, NGO
Duration
2012
Type
Natural Resources Planning
Region
Coastal BC
Outcomes
  • produced estimates of net revenue available from conifer oil production
  • conducted scenario analyses to allow three First Nations to assess the risk and opportunity associated with conifer oil production across their land base
Forest Estate Modeling
20
Other
60
Risk Analysis
20

Project Description

Oils extracted from conifer boughs are a potential new resource opportunity in coastal British Columbia. Cortex developed models and methods for identifying the potential of the conifer oil resource on portions of the traditional territories of three coastal First Nations (Heiltsuk, Haisla, and Haida). We updated forest inventory data for each study area and estimated biomass and confer oil volumes. Through application of a forest estate model we were able to project harvesting and transportation costs associated with obtaining the bough material necessary for production of conifer oils. Using inventory and cost estimates, along with pricing data provided by the client, we calculated the net revenue by forest stand that was available from conifer oils. These analyses were run for four different scenarios from pessimistic to optimistic, providing each First Nation with the necessary information to assess the risk and opportunity associated with conifer oil production across their land base.

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