The new allowable annual cut for the Merritt Timber Supply Area will be 1.5 million cubic metres, effective immediately, and will decrease to 1.2 million cubic metres on March 24, 2021, chief forester Diane Nicholls announced today.

This is a decrease from the 2.4 million cubic metres set in 2010, which included a temporary uplift to encourage harvesting of mountain pine beetle-killed trees.

The new allowable annual cut is comparable to the cut level before the mountain pine beetle epidemic began.

The Merritt Timber Supply Area is located in the southern interior region of the province and covers 1.13 million hectares. Of this area, about 590,000 hectares are available for timber harvesting.

Communities in the timber supply area include Merritt, Princeton, Tulameen, Douglas Lake and Spences Bridge, as well as the First Nations communities of Coldwater, Cooks Ferry, Nooaitch, Shackan, Upper Nicola, Lower Nicola and Upper Similkameen. Dominant tree species within the timber supply area include pine, Douglas-fir and spruce.

Quotes:

Diane Nicholls, chief forester –

“Now that we have nearly completed salvage harvesting of mountain pine beetle-affected stands in the Merritt Timber Supply Area, my new determination signals a return to more sustainable harvesting practices that will support and ensure the long-term timber supply.”

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 Forest Act, the chief forester must determine the allowable annual cut 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 Merritt Natural Resource District office, or online at: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/tsa/tsa18/index.htm