Effective Oct. 30, 2014, the allowable annual cut for the Dawson Creek timber supply area remains at 1,860,000 cubic metres which was first set in 2003, deputy chief forester Diane Nicholls announced today.

Maintaining the allowable annual cut level will help preserve the short-term timber supply. Under the allowable annual cut decision, a maximum of 978,000 cubic metres per year can be harvested from spruce- and pine-leading stands.

The Dawson Creek timber supply experienced a relatively low level of pine mortality during the mountain pine beetle infestation. Most of the affected trees have already been harvested. As a result, the mid-term timber supply in this timber supply area is not expected to change.

The Dawson Creek timber supply area covers approximately 2.3 million hectares and is bounded by the Peace River to the north and the Alberta border to the east. One third of the area, or about 758,335 hectares, is available for timber harvesting. The primary tree species are white spruce, black spruce, lodgepole pine, subalpine fir, trembling aspen and balsam poplar.

The timber supply area has two operational mills and includes the City of Dawson Creek and the smaller communities of Chetwynd, Tumbler Ridge, Taylor, Hudson’s Hope and Pouce Coupe.

Quote:

Diane Nicholls, deputy chief forester -

“After a careful review of all the available information on timber and non-timber resources in the Dawson Creek timber supply area, and consulting with the public and First Nations, I am satisfied that the current allowable annual cut level can be maintained.”

Quick Facts:

• The deputy chief forester’s allowable annual cut 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 harvest levels in each of the province’s 38 timber supply areas and 34 tree farm licences at least once every 10 years.

Learn More:

The deputy chief forester’s allowable annual cut determination is available from the Peace Natural Resource District, or online at: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/tsa/tsa41/index.htm

Media Contacts:

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