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VICTORIA
– The Ministry of Forests and Range today released a public discussion
paper summarizing the results of a new analysis for the Kamloops timber supply
area. Comments will be accepted until Dec. 10, 2007 as part of the timber supply
review.
The chief forester will consider
the analysis along with public input, consultation with First Nations and other
technical reports when he determines a new allowable annual cut for the timber
supply area early next year.
The analysis suggests
that an annual harvest level of 4.2 million cubic metres could be maintained
during the next few years before declining to about 1.8 million cubic metres by
2016. This decline is about 23 per cent lower than what was predicted before
the mountain pine beetle infestation.
The analysis indicates that the level of salvage harvesting in the short term can significantly impact mid-term timber supply in the Kamloops TSA. The analysis projections also consider other forest values, including wildlife habitat, old growth, riparian management, and Kamloops Land and Resource Management Plan objectives.
Copies of the public discussion paper are available from the Kamloops Forest District and the Southern Interior Forest Regional offices in Kamloops, as well as the Headwaters Forest District office in Clearwater. The discussion paper is available at www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/tsa/tsa11/ online.
Under the comprehensive timber supply review, the chief forester must determine how much wood can be harvested in each of the province’s 37 timber supply areas and 33 tree farm licences at least once every five years. The chief forester can determine new allowable annual cuts in response to abnormal situations, such as the mountain pine beetle epidemic, or postpone a decision for another five years if a harvest level is not expected to change significantly.
Visit www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/ for information
about the timber supply process, and www.gov.bc.ca/pinebeetle
to learn more about the mountain pine beetle epidemic in B.C.
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contact: |
District Manager Kamloops Forest District 250 371-6500 |
District Manager Headwaters Forest District 250 587-6700 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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