Comments are being accepted until Feb. 6, 2015, on a public discussion paper released today as part of a comprehensive timber supply review for the Strathcona Timber Supply Area.

Public feedback on the discussion paper will be considered by the chief forester before setting the new allowable annual cut. The discussion paper describes the geography, natural resources, forest management and land use requirements of the Strathcona Timber Supply Area. It also provides the results of the timber supply analysis, including the base case harvest forecast.

The Strathcona Timber Supply Area covers about 1.3 million hectares of which about 163,000 hectares are currently available for timber harvesting. Communities in the timber supply area include Campbell River, Comox, Courtenay, Cumberland, Gold River, Kyuquot, Sayward, Tahsis and Zeballos.

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/tsa37/index.htm

Media Contacts:

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