Forests
B.C.'s chief forester has set a new allowable annual cut for the Soo timber supply area at 480,000 cubic metres, about five per cent lower than the previous harvest level.
The Soo timber supply area covers about 910,000 hectares north of Vancouver. However, only about 93,000 hectares is considered to be part of the timber harvesting land base.
The Soo timber supply area includes the drainages of the lower Squamish River and Cheakamus River, which flow into Howe Sound; and the Lillooet River, which flows into Harrison Lake.
The previous allowable annual cut for the Soo timber supply area was established in 2000 at 503,000 cubic metres.
Quote:
Jim Snetsinger, chief forester:
"This slight reduction in the cut level for the Soo timber supply area is due to updated forest analysis information, including a decrease in the area available for logging. The size of the timber harvesting land base has been affected by the establishment of a new community forest, increased wildlife habitat areas, and the implementation of land use objectives under the Sea-to-Sky Land and Resource Management Plan."
Quick Facts:
About the Soo timber supply area -
* It includes the communities of Lions Bay, Squamish, Whistler and Pemberton.
* It includes many parks and protected areas, including nine new conservancies established since 2000 under the Sea-to-Sky Land and Resource Management Plan.
* The major commercial tree species (in order of abundance) are Douglas-fir, amabilis fir (balsam), western hemlock, western red cedar and Engelmann spruce.
About allowable annual cut determinations -
* 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 37 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.
Learn More:
For a copy of the rationale for the Soo allowable annual cut determination:
Historical timber supply review documents for the Soo timber supply area:
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/tsa/tsa31/docs.htm
Contact:
Cheekwan Ho
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect
