British Columbia's chief forester sets AAC for Bulkley TSA at 852,000 m3 for 10 years, limits harvest of high-quality timber to 502,700 m3/year

Wendy Lisney

VICTORIA, British Columbia , January 30, 2014 (press release) – After an extensive timber supply review, chief forester Dave Peterson announced today that the allowable annual cut for the Bulkley timber supply area will remain at 852,000 cubic metres for 10 years.

In 2002, the allowable annual cut was set at 882,000 cubic metres. The effective allowable annual cut was reduced to 852,000 cubic metres in 2008 when land was removed from the timber supply area to create the Wetzink'wa community forest.

The timber supply area is a mix of high-quality and low-quality timber stands. To ensure that high-quality timber is not over-harvested, the chief forester established a partition in the allowable annual cut. This partition limits the harvest of high-quality timber to a maximum of 502,700 cubic metres per year. By establishing a partition, the chief forester provides licensees with an opportunity to harvest lower quality stands that can be used for pulpwood, bioenergy, or other non-lumber products.

The Bulkley timber supply area covers 762,734 hectares of which 283,510 hectares are available for timber harvesting. It is bounded by the Hazelton Mountains to the west, the Telkwa River watershed to the south, the Babine Mountains to the east, and extends north to the headwaters of the Nilkitkwa River. Communities in the timber supply area are Smithers, Telkwa, Moricetown, and Fort Babine.

The dominant tree species in the Bulkley timber supply area are subalpine fir (balsam), spruce and lodgepole pine. There are small amounts of hemlock in areas of coastal influence and at high elevations.

Quote:

Dave Peterson, chief forester -

"After reviewing all the relevant information, I'm confident that maintaining the current level of cut is sustainable."

Quick Facts:

• The chief forester's allowable annual cut 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 harvest levels in each of the province's 38 timber supply areas and 34 tree farm licences at least once every 10 years.

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