As part of the Mid-Term Timber Supply Action Plan, a new silvicultural strategy analysis has been completed that identifies a 600,000 cubic metre increase in mid-term timber supply over previous projections in the Quesnel timber supply area.

As part of the type 4 silviculture strategy for the Quesnel timber supply area, new inventory data has been used which identifies opportunities for harvesting, reforestation, planting and fertilization that can have the greatest effect on timber and other forest values.

The new analysis reflects the past four years of harvest activity, new forest cover information from the eastern portion of the timber supply area, as well as Landscape Vegetation Inventory information for the western portion. Landscape Vegetation Inventory analysis is a new efficient and cost-effective method that takes advantage of satellite imagery, high resolution digital aerial photography, and software applications for managing very large data sets.

The main reasons for the higher mid-term forecast in this analysis, as compared to the previous mid-term analysis conducted in summer 2011, are due to the incorporation of new information that indicates lower pine mortality estimates in young stands, more live pine remaining in older stands and new managed stand site productivity estimates that these stands will grow faster than previously thought.

Ministry staff met with Quesnel timber supply area licensees today to discuss the analysis results. While the new forecast shows an increase in potential mid-term timber supply, this does not mean the current allowable annual cut will change. The chief forester will be considering this, and other new information, in the next redetermination of the allowable annual cut.

To achieve improved timber supply projections, licensees will need to closely follow the harvesting assumptions identified within the analysis. The final analysis, expected in March 2013, will also identify key silviculture practices and investments for the future.

On Oct. 9, 2012, the government released its Mid-Term Timber Supply Action Plan, consisting of nine sustained and 11 new actions. Among these actions, the ministry committed to type 4 silviculture strategies initially in seven timber supply areas, 100 Mile House, Lakes, Morice, Prince George, Okanagan, Williams Lake and Quesnel.

Quotes:

Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson -

"Between now and the end of March 2013, ministry staff are working closely with licensees to finalize comprehensive silviculture strategies to encourage healthy resilient forests. The final strategies will also help prioritize investment decisions on the land base."

Parliamentary Secretary for Forestry John Rustad -

"It's great to see these initial results, which are encouraging for mid-term timber supply. These results also show the benefits of new digital and satellite technology."

Learn More:

For more information on the Mid-Term Timber Supply Action Plan and the mountain pine beetle, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/pinebeetle

A backgrounder follows.

Media Contact:

Brennan Clarke
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261

BACKGROUNDER

Strategic silviculture to create resilient B.C. forests

As part of the Mid-Term Timber Supply Action Plan the ministry is working closely with forest licensees to develop seven comprehensive timber supply, area-wide, silviculture investment strategies to help ensure resilient forests.

Over the next two years, these strategic plans will identify the best areas for harvesting, reforestation, intensive silviculture and fertilization, as well as for management of wildlife habitat and opportunities to address climate change. Rather than developing individual stand-alone plans as in the past, licensees are working collaboratively together across a timber-supply area.

This new approach, called "type 4" silviculture strategies, includes long-term objectives not previously integrated into the strategies, such as wildfire and forest fuel management, climate change adaptation, and ecosystem restoration. Initially plans are being developed in the following timber supply areas: 100 Mile House, Lakes, Morice, Prince George, Okanagan, Williams Lake and Quesnel.

In addition, pilot projects underway in the Nadina and Okanagan-Shuswap districts have fire management specialists working closely with type 4 silviculture strategy planners to help realize mutual benefits for silviculture planning and wildfire and forest fuels management. For example, wildfires can be reduced by promoting planting alternative tree species in areas of high forecasted wildfire probability or spacing and pruning to create firebreaks - gaps in vegetation that allow for more effective wildfire suppression.

The results of integrating wildfire management and silviculture strategies in the Nadina and Okanagan-Shuswap districts will be analyzed and then incorporated into silviculture strategies in other areas. These two districts were chosen as pilots given the severity of fires there in recent years. Wildfires have affected 340,000 hectares of areas available for commercial timber harvesting over the last decade.

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