Comments are being accepted until Nov. 26, 2013, on a public discussion paper released today as part of a comprehensive timber supply review for the Dawson Creek Timber Supply Area.

Public feedback on the discussion paper will be considered by the chief forester before setting a new allowable annual cut. The current allowable annual cut is 1,860,000 cubic metres. The discussion paper describes the geography, natural resources, forest management and land-use plans of the Dawson Creek Timber Supply Area. It also provides the results of the timber supply analysis, including a base case harvest forecast.

The Dawson Creek Timber Supply Area covers about 2.3 million hectares, with only 758,335 hectares available for timber harvesting. Communities in the timber supply area include Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Hudson's Hope, and Tumbler Ridge.

The chief forester's allowable annual cut determination is an independent professional judgment based on information such as technical forestry reports and input from First Nations and the public.

Under the Forest Act, the chief forester must determine the maximum amount of wood that can be harvested in each of the province's 38 timber supply areas and 34 tree farm licences at least once every 10 years. However, 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.

To view or download a copy of the discussion paper, visit the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations forest analysis and inventory branch website at: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/tsa/tsa41/index.htm

Contact:

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