After an extensive review, acting chief forester Diane Nicholls announced an allowable annual cut of 196,000 cubic metres for the Cassiar Timber Supply Area effective immediately — a decrease of 36% from the 305,000 cubic metres per year set in 2001.

Given the lack of mills in the area, limited access and low local demand for forest products, harvesting in the area has been well below the allowable annual cut. The new cut level is about twice the average annual harvest volume in the timber supply area over the past decade and limits the amount of timber in the Iskut supply block to 80,000 cubic metres.

The Cassiar Timber Supply Area covers 13.1 million hectares. Of this area, only about 207,576 hectares is available for timber harvesting. Communities include Dease Lake, Atlin, Telegraph Creek, Iskut, Good Hope Lake and Lower Post.

The timber supply area is the largest in the province by area and consists of stands that are often separated by large distances. Tree species include western hemlock, sitka spruce and subalpine fir in the west and white spruce and lodgepole pine in the interior of the area.

Quote:

Diane Nicholls, acting chief forester - 

“I am satisfied that the new allowable annual cut reflects government’s objectives for all forest resources within the Cassiar Timber Supply Area over the next 10 years and will continue to meet best current management practices.”

Quick Facts:

• The 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 allowable annual cut determination is available from the Skeena Stikine Natural Resource District office, or online at: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/tsa/tsa04/

Media Contacts:

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