A long history of logging and timber processing has occurred in the timber supply area and this sector continues to be the largest source of revenue and employment. The wood processing industry now includes two relatively large sawmills, one east of the community of Burns Lake and one at Decker Lake, west of Burns Lake. Two secondary manufacturing plants and a few small mills are also active in the area. More than 30 per cent of the wood harvested from the Lakes Timber Supply Area leaves the area to be processed at mills in adjacent timber supply areas. (SEA page 39)
Harvesting, processing and silvicultural activities resulting from the current allowable annual cut in the Lakes Timber Supply Area generate an estimated 809 person-years of direct forestry employment within the timber supply area. An additional 370 person-years of spin-off employment are estimated to be created through forest company and employee spending. In total, the present allowable annual cut generates approximately 1,179 person-years of employment in the Lakes Timber Supply Area. Additional employment is created by processing timber harvested outside the timber supply area. (SEA page 44)
