Poachers endangering Fraser Valley's rare maple trees

Authorities say poachers have decimated the Fraser Valley's stands of mature curly maple trees, prompting police to crack down on mills that still process the wood.

Investigators say the problem has become so bad in the past few years that most of the trees have cut marks from thieves looking to see if the inner wood has the special grain that can make it so valuable on the black market.

The curly maple is a variety of the more common broadleaf maple that has a genetic defect, which gives the grain special whorls and tiger stripes. The wood is used by craftsmen to make visually striking string instruments and furniture.

Jeff Mortimer, a compliance officer with the Ministry of Forests, said investigators get about 50 reports a year of maple poachers cutting down the trees illegally in provincial parks, on private property and on Crown land.

Once cut, the trees must be processed by a mill within one or two days, or they will lose their valuable characteristics, said RCMP Const. Kevin Hamilton, a specialist in forestry crimes.

Policeare now meeting with local mill operators to make them more aware of the crime, and targeting them with spot inspections, he said.

"Quite commonly we'll be conducting a mill inspection, taking a look at a particular mill and a pickup truck will drive in and the occupants will get out and start off-loading blocks of maple from the rear of the vehicle and they're about to sell the wood to the mill and at that point we intervene and seize the wood," Hamilton said.

Metske Elgersma, who owns a Chilliwack mill specializing in fine cuts of wood, said he turns away people who don't have paperwork proving the wood has been legally harvested.

"For us it's a big frustration," Elgersma said. "These fellows are quite elusive."

The highest qualitywood can sell for as much as $200 for a half-metre square slab about 10 cm thick, Elgersma said. Even poor quality cuts sell for $10 to $20 on internet sites such as eBay.

Police are encouraging people who see or hear suspicious activity in the woods nearthe Fraser Valley to contact them.

They say the poachers often operate in rainy weather or early in the morning, when they believe they are less likely to be caught.