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VICTORIA – Today’s release of an information report and technical data package signals the start of the fourth timber supply review for the Prince George timber supply area (TSA).
The public is encouraged to review and comment on the documents. Comments will be accepted until Jan. 30, 2009.
The information report summarizes key issues covered in the corresponding data package, which will serve as the foundation for a timber supply analysis report that the chief forester will consider before he decides a new allowable annual cut for the Prince George TSA next fall.
This is the first of two opportunities for public comment during the timber supply review process. The second will be when the timber supply analysis report and an accompanying public discussion paper are completed next summer.
The current allowable annual cut of
14.9 million cubic metres was set in October 2004. It reflected the need to address
a mountain pine beetle epidemic by increasing the harvest of pine timber in the
TSA, which is composed of the Vanderhoof,
The mountain pine beetle is still
affecting the timber supply area, but recent research shows that the epidemic
has already peaked in the Vanderhoof and
By 2024, the mountain pine beetle is projected to have attacked a cumulative total of more than 220.9 million cubic metres of pine across the Prince George TSA. As part of the review process, a socio-economic analysis will be done to help assess the impacts and implications of the decline in timber supply. The chief forester will review the socio-economic analysis, along with other information, before setting a new allowable annual cut.
The Prince George TSA covers about 7.5 million
hectares and includes the City of Prince George and the smaller communities of
Fort St. James, Vanderhoof, Fraser Lake, Fort Fraser, Hixon, Strathnaver,
Giscome, Upper Fraser, Willow River, Summit Lake, Bear Lake, McLeod Lake,
Lheidli T’enneh, Yekooche, Nak’azdli, Tl’azt’en, Takla, Saik’uz, Stellat’en,
and Nadleh Whut’en.
Under the timber supply review, the chief forester or deputy chief forester determines 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. A new allowable annual cut can be determined earlier in response to abnormal situations, or postponed for another five years if the allowable annual cut is not expected to change significantly.
The timber supply review accounts for environmental concerns like biodiversity (including old-growth forests), water quality, and scenic values, in addition to social and economic issues. Public input is an important component of the review, along with First Nations input and information from technical forestry reports.
Copies of the data package and information report are
available online at www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/tsa/tsa24
or from Ministry of Forests and Range district offices in
-30-
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Media Contact: |
Chief Forester’s Office 250 387-1296 |
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