Comments are being accepted until Feb. 3, 2014, on a public discussion paper released today as part of a comprehensive timber supply review for the Robson Valley timber supply area (TSA).

Public feedback on the discussion paper will be considered by the chief forester before setting a new allowable annual cut (AAC). The current allowable annual cut for the Robson Valley TSA, in effect since Aug. 4, 2006, is 536,000 cubic metres per year and will remain in effect until a new AAC is determined.

The discussion paper describes the geography, natural resources, forest management and land use plans of the Robson Valley Timber Supply Area. It also provides the results of the timber supply analysis, including a base case harvest forecast.

The Robson Valley TSA is located in the Rocky Mountain Trench, south of Prince George to Jasper National Park. It covers approximately 1.26 million hectares and includes the communities of McBride, Dunster, Valemount and Crescent Spur.

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 significant changes, or postponed up to five years if an allowable annual cut level is not expected to change significantly.

In the Robson Valley TSA, there have been two new community forest agreements, a significant area has been set aside for mountain caribou recovery and old growth management areas have been established, reducing the area available for timber harvesting.

View or download a copy of the discussion paper at the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations forest analysis and inventory branch website: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/tsa/tsa17 or from the Prince George Natural Resource District office at the address below.

Prince George Natural Resource District - McBride Field Office
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
Box 40, 300 Robson Centre
McBride, B.C.
V0J 2E0

Contact:

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