Five companies in an innovative forestry practices agreement have had a combined increase of 373,000 cubic metres per year for their allowable annual cut, effective from Jan. 1, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2015.

The regional executive director awarded the increase after reviewing their application, forestry plan and timber supply analysis, as well as considering public and First Nations input. Continued innovative forestry practices, such as ongoing inventory work, supported the increase. This increase does not affect the allowable annual cut for the Merritt Timber Supply Area, which remains unchanged at 2,400,000 cubic metres.

The five affected licensees are Ardew Wood Products Ltd., Aspen Planers Ltd., Stuwix Resources Ltd., Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd. and Tolko Industries Ltd., which holds two licences. The agreement area covers 1.13 million hectares within the Merritt Timber Supply Area. Under the agreement, licensees conduct activities above their basic forestry management obligations with a view to improve timber productivity.

In addition, the regional executive director has approved an increase from 73,306 cubic metres to 159,192 cubic metres in direct award volume to Merritt Timber Supply Area First Nations to foster economic benefits through forest tenure and opportunity agreements. This increase is provided through unallocated timber outside the Innovative Forest Practices Agreement within the Merritt Timber Supply Area.

Under delegated authority of the Forest Act, the ministry's Thompson-Okanagan regional executive director made the decision to increase the allowable annual cut of the innovative forestry practices agreement-holders. Licence-holders must comply with conditions of the increase, the agreement, the Forest Act, the Forest and Range Practices Act and other relevant legislation.

The Merritt Timber Supply Area is in the Southwest Interior of the province, with 60 per cent of the population living in the communities of Merritt and Princeton. Copies of the decision rationale are available online at: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/rsi/IFPA/IFPA.htm

Contact:

Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261