British Columbia reduces AAC for Okanagan timber supply area to 3.1 million m3 from 3.375 million m3 as predicted level of pine mortality drops to 37% from 72%

Wendy Lisney

VICTORIA , February 29, 2012 (press release) – Effective immediately, the new allowable annual cut for the Okanagan timber supply area will decrease from 3.375 million cubic metres to 3.1 million cubic metres, chief forester Jim Snetsinger announced today.

The allowable annual cut was increased in January 2006 to salvage mountain pine beetle-attacked timber. Since then the predicted level of pine mortality has decreased from 72 per cent to 37 per cent.

The new lower cut reflects this decrease and the need to transition to a lower mid-term timber supply expected to occur before pine stands recover. The lower cut also reflects other forest values, like wildlife habitat, riparian areas and old growth management areas.

The Okanagan timber supply area stretches from Seymour River and Shuswap Lake in the north to the U.S. border in the south, and from the Monashee Mountains in the east to the Okanagan Mountains in the west. While the timber supply area covers about 2.25 million hectares, only about 783,000 hectares are available for timber harvesting.

Quote:

Jim Snetsinger, chief forester -

"The Okanagan timber supply area has many diverse ecosystems, and the increase in areas managed for biodiversity and backcountry road networks means I needed to decrease the allowable annual cut to ensure long-term sustainability. Logging of beetle-attacked timber continues in the Okanagan, but my determination reflects that it is now time to start to transition to a more sustainable midterm harvest level."

Quick Facts:

• The chief forester's determination is an independent professional judgment based on information ranging from technical forestry reports, First Nations and public input to the government's social and economic goals.
• Under the timber supply review, the chief forester or deputy chief forester must determine how much wood can be harvested in each of the province's 38 timber supply areas and 34 tree farm licences at least once every 10 years.
• A new allowable annual cut may be determined earlier in response to abnormal situations, or postponed for up to five years if an allowable annual cut level is not expected to change significantly.

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