A regulatory change allowing the removal of private land from a woodlot licence will give woodlot holders more flexibility in how they manage their assets, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced today.

Amendments updating a number of resource-related acts were introduced today, including changes to the Occupiers Liability Act that will reduce liability concerns arising from the public use of resource roads.

Wildfire management initial attack crews based in the Robson Valley will soon be stationed in a new operations centre, thanks to capital funding announced in the 2012-13 provincial budget.

Effective immediately, the allowable annual cut for Tree Farm Licence 35 will be 125,000 cubic metres, chief forester Jim Snetsinger announced today.

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.

New capital funding announced as part of Budget 2012-13 will allow an expanded zone office and new provincial wildfire training centre to be built in Merritt.

Effective immediately, the new allowable annual cut for Tree Farm Licence 49 will be decreased from 580,000 cubic metres to 330,000 cubic metres, chief forester Jim Snetsinger announced today.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations responds to the auditor general's report on the ministry's timber management objectives: