Volume 1 - Resource Management
Chapter 13 - Revenue: Scaling and Cruising

Policy 13.7 - Timber Cruising

Effective Date: 01-Jan-02
Updated: 05-Jun-03
Responsible Branch: Revenue Branch

Resource Management Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

Scope

This policy provides standards for the measurement and estimation of Crown timber that will be harvested.

Policy

Crown timber on each cutting authority will be inspected, cruised and computed according to the standards and procedures in this policy.

The timber cruise will provide the estimate of volume, species composition, quality of timber and other data required to determine stumpage rates.

Definitions

Cruising is the measurement and estimation of volumes of standing and down Crown timber on a given parcel of land.

Check cruising is the systematic check of the quality of the design and fieldwork of a cruise to determine whether it meets ministry standards.  Where a cruise is selected for checking, a minimum of 10 percent of the fieldwork will be checked.  The provincial Cruising Manual lists the required fieldwork and the acceptable measurement errors.

Cutting Authority means a cutting permit or an application for a cutting permit, or a timber sale licence, or a timber sale licence that has been advertised.

Cruise-based licences are cutting authorities where the licensee is billed stumpage on the basis of cruised volume.

Check Cruising Standard

The checking standards for each district are as follows:

  • 100 percent of cruise-based licences.
  • 50 percent of scale-based cutting authorities.  Cruisers, agencies, or licensees that do not have an established record of accurate cruising will be checked more intensively based on risk management.
  • The checking standards for low value sales and low risk cruising may be modified by the Regional Manager but shall not be lower than:
    • 50 percent for cruise-based cutting authorities
    • 25 percent for scale-based cutting authorities.

Cruise Package Review

A check of each timber cruise will be made to ensure that the cruise plan, the fieldwork and the compilation are completed to ministry standards.  Checking applies to licensee's cruises and cruises carried out by or on behalf of the Ministry.

Cruise Compilation Check

Each region will conduct at least four compilation technical reviews annually, including a systematic check of the cruise compilation from tally cards to final reports and a recompilation.  Revenue Branch will conduct a check of all cruise compilation programs when they have been changed or modified.

Recording and Reporting

Each district must maintain a program of check cruising and a check cruising ledger.  Regions will monitor each district and report annually to the Regional Manager on the level of check cruising activity and the quality of cruising.

Adverse Weather Conditions

Cruising should not be done if adverse weather conditions affect the standard of tree measurement vital to the stumpage rate determination.

Reconnaissance Surveys

Reconnaissance surveys using cruising techniques will be planned and carried out when required in order to evaluate the degree of damage to forest stands by wind, fire or insects.

Modification

Cruising procedures and computerized output design for appraisals are the responsibility of Revenue Branch.

Modification of taper equations and their constants, loss factor tables and computerized rules for interpreting the standard log grades require the approval of Revenue Branch.

References

Procedures

These procedures apply to the cruising policy.  Other procedures are prescribed in the Ministry of Forests Cruising Manual and in the regional cruising guidelines.

Director, Revenue Branch

  • ensures that the cruising policy and cruising procedures meet the requirements of timber appraisals and the interests of other branches.

Cruising Policy Forester

  • develops cruising policies and establishes tree measurement standards;
  • monitors the effectiveness of all cruising activity;
  • maintains a provincial Cruising Manual which prescribes cruising procedures and standards;
  • prescribes rules to licensees for the compilation of the cruise and for submission of data and information in order to attain uniformity in the calculation procedures; maintains a program which tracks the performance of industry cruise compilation programs; conducts an initial compilation check of all compilers when the program is modified;
  • provides technical and interpretative liaison with Regional Cruising Co-ordinators and industry; and
  • conducts a technical review of one region per year to ensure the soundness of the regional and district cruising program.  The technical review is to include a random recheck of a cruise that was check cruised.

Regional Manager

  • ensures that the cruising policy, procedures and standards are implemented and adhered to throughout the region; and
  • ensures that sufficient cruising capability and competency is maintained throughout the region to meet the requirements of this policy.

Regional Revenue Manager

  • plans and develops the management strategy for the region to administer the timber cruising policy by establishing procedures giving sufficient technical guidance to ensure the cruising policy can be applied satisfactorily throughout the region.

Regional Cruising Co-ordinator

The Regional Cruising Co-ordinator interprets and administers the policies and procedures established for regional operations by:

  • ensuring that standards are adhered to uniformly and consistently, without impeding the consideration of site specific and local situations which affect timber pricing;
  • monitoring 3 districts every year to ensure that all timber offered for sale or under application for harvesting is cruised to a standard that meets the requirements of the appraisal, billing where applicable, and reports the level of performance to the Regional Manager with recommendations.  The monitoring is to include a random recheck of a cruise that was check cruised;
  • conducting or arranging for at least four compilation checks annually;
  • training selected ministry employees in the district to ensure they are competent to perform cruises, check cruises and compilations; and
  • ensuring that all licensees, consultants and technical schools within the region are conversant with the cruising policies and procedures of the Ministry.

District Manager

  • maintains sufficient cruising capability and competency;
  • maintains a program of check cruising, a check cruising ledger and annually reports to the Regional Manager on the level of check cruising activity and on the number of acceptable and unacceptable cruises of those checked;
  • ensures that cruising and check cruising activities are carried out in a timely manner and in accordance within ministry policy and procedures; and
  • estimates and budgets for required funds to retain outside services if required to undertake cruising on behalf of the Ministry.

References