Effective immediately, the new allowable annual cut (AAC) for the Kamloops Timber Supply Area (TSA) will be 2.3 million cubic metres and decrease to 2.1 million cubic metres, effective May 5, 2021, chief forester Diane Nicholls announced today.

This new AAC is a decrease of 1.7 million cubic metres per year from four million cubic metres per year, set in 2008, which included an uplift to account for the salvage of dead pine. However, the average annual harvest over the last few years has been about 2.8 million cubic metres.

The Kamloops TSA covers approximately 2.77 million hectares. Dominant tree species include pine, spruce, cedar, hemlock and Douglas-fir.

Communities in the timber supply area include Ashcroft, Barriere, Chase, Clearwater, Kamloops, Logan Lake and Vavenby, as well as 34 First Nations with asserted territories. There are three lumber mills, two chipping mills, two veneer-plywood mills and a pulp and paper mill operating within the TSA.

Quote:

Diane Nicholls, chief forester –

“The mountain pine beetle epidemic and the salvage of dead pine is ending in the Kamloops Timber Supply area. The new allowable annual cut reflects the transition to lower mid-term harvest levels and is needed to give regenerating stands time to grow and reach marketable size.”

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 Kamloops Natural Resource District office, or online at: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/tsa/tsa11/