About 15 major sawmills will run out of business in British Columbia due to the mountain pine beetle epidemic, which is described as one of the North America's largest natural environmental disasters. This will cause shortage of lumber in the United States.

One of the authors of the report said that the Canadian lumber production will not be able to recover throughout the century. The report also reveals that interior sawmills will start running out of good timber within three to five years.

The pine beetle epidemic will reduce Canada's share of the U. S. lumber market by almost 50%. However, lumber prices are expected to soar high.

About a billion cubic meters of B. C. timber, is expected to be killed by the pine beetle. In spite of a rescue program being underway for a decade, the imminent end of sawlog-quality wood indicates that the industry will face lack of supply, especially when the demand for lumber is escalating.

Russell Taylor, President of the International Wood Markets Group said, "After some expected gains in the lumber markets between 2010 and 2013, the B. C. Interior lumber industry will need to begin reducing production. This impact on the U. S. market will soon be profound".

About 16 large primary mills in the B. C Interior are expected to close by 2018, due to deficiency caused by the mountain pine beetle, according to Jim Girvan, one of the study authors.