Engagement Summary

The Timber Supply Review program began in 1992 to regularly review the timber supply and the Allowable Annual Cut (AAC), the maximum volume of timber available for harvest, in each of the Timber Supply Areas (TSA) and Tree Farm Licences (TFL) throughout the province. Under Section 8 of the Forest Act, British Columbia’s Chief Forester must determine these AACs, at least once every ten years.
 
Before the program began, frequent reviews of the timber supply weren’t required; as a result, in many cases the Allowable Annual Cuts did not reflect modernized practices. In response to this, and to address widespread public concern, the government legislated the Timber Supply Review program under Section 8 of the Forest Act (the Act). This program provides the Chief Forester with the information required to determine an AAC and helps to identify where new or better information is required for future decisions. The Chief Forester considers the results of a timber supply analysis, public engagement and First Nations’ consultation, as well as all of the factors required under Section 8 of the Act when a new AAC is determined.

 

Timeframe:

Ongoing
 

Input Received:

Since 1992, there have been more than 200 Timber Supply Reviews.  In any single year, the Province is engaged in over 20 – 25 timber supply reviews, each process provides opportunities for local governments, community groups, licence holders, non-government organizations and individual members of the public to review and provide input on the information being prepared for the Chief Forester.  First Nations’ consultation is integral to the Timber Supply Review, and increasingly, government and First Nations are developing and implementing shared decision making processes.

 

Input leads to action:

The information and recommendations received are considered by the Chief Forester, and where relevant to the decision, are described in a Rationale for AAC Determination document that is made publicly available.  Public input and the results of First Nations engagement have supported changes such as the institution of partitions in the AAC to conserve green timber for harvest after trees killed by the mountain pine beetle can no longer be salvaged. By engaging in the Timber Supply Review process, First Nations’ are able to improve the Chief Forester’s understanding and consideration of aboriginal interests, and individual citizens have an opportunity to influence the level of the Allowable Annual Cut and how it changes over time.
 

To learn more about the Timber Supply Review program, please visit the following sites:

• Forest Analysis and Inventory Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
• Provincial Map of Tree Farm Licences, Timber Supply Areas, Regions and Districts

Or email the Forest Analysis Branch Office:  Forests.ForestAnalysisBranchOffice@gov.bc.ca