The Ministry of Forests Act requires that a forest and range resource analysis be completed not later than September 30, 1979, September 30, 1984, and September 30 of every tenth year after that. The forest and range resource analysis must contain:

• a description of the inventory and condition of forest and range resources

• a description of the location and extent of forest land that has become denuded and not restocked or that is producing timber at a rate below its potential

• a description of ministry programs affecting forest and range resource management

• an analysis of economic trends and opportunities concerning the supply of and demand for forest and range resources and products

• a summary of public policy developments that are likely to affect forest and range resource use, ownership, licensing and management.

The 1994 FRRRA presents information relevant to current issues in B.C. forest resource management as a foundation for developing future resource management policy.

The public policy context for this report has changed greatly over the past decade. Increasing pressures have been placed on the land base – not just for timber but also for community watersheds, recreation, wildlife and preservation of unique ecological and biological resources. Public interest in the resources and values of the forest has expanded greatly, as has the number of groups with an interest in resource decisions. Responsible and responsive decision-making has become more difficult in the context of resource conflicts. Public processes for consultation, new research initiatives, interagency consultation and increasing emphasis on ways to represent local and regional values in decision-making have all been responses to these new circumstances.

The concept of “sustainable development” to secure the maximum long-term economic, social and environmental benefits from the province’s natural resources has greatly influenced resource management, environmental policy and public attitudes. It underlies many of the programs and policies of past decades. These include the Timber Supply Review, integrated resource inventories, the Coastal Fisheries/Forestry Guidelines, the Forest Sector Strategy Committee and many others.

Government policy direction and recent court decisions have made the recognition and accommodation of aboriginal rights and interests an important factor in forest management. Through the B.C. Treaty Commission, Interim Measures and First Nations Policy Forums, among others, the government is moving towards settlement of treaties and recognition and accommodation of First Nations’ interests in land and resources.

Finally, new legislation has been passed. This includes establishment of a Forest Land Reserve to preserve commercial forest against encroachments; a Forest Practices Code to regulate forest development planning, operations and reforestation; and creation of Forest Renewal BC, to take revenues derived from the forest resource and invest them in projects and programs under the direction of a board representing forest companies, workers, communities, environmentalists, First Nations and government. Investments include new skills training programs, encouraging new value-added timber manufacturing and processing, enhanced silviculture and watershed restoration and fish-stream rehabilitation.

Information reported is as current and as comprehensive as possible; every effort has been made to provide data current to March 31, 1994. Much of the information reported has been derived from raw data and existing reports.[1] Special projects have been undertaken to produce additional materials and relevant information. Data sets or background reports too extensive to include in this document are referenced.

The 1994 FRRRA is intended for Ministry of Forests staff, elected government officials, resource agencies and all those interested in the condition and use of resources in British Columbia’s provincial forests.

1.1 Previous Forest and Range Resource Analyses

Findings and products of the 1979 analysis included:

• The forest industry of the future would face limited, probably declining timber supplies.

• More attention was required on achieving integrated resource management (IRM) to limit impacts on non-timber resources and to sustain access to commercial timber lands.

• Baseline data were established for comparison in future forest and range resource analyses.

Findings and products of the 1984 analysis included:

• In general, forest management performance, including investment level, was below what had been assumed when future timber supplies were analyzed.

• There was further evidence of a future decline in the quantity and quality of timber that would be available to support British Columbia’s forest industry.

• Timber supply projections did not adequately account for the rate and distribution of timber harvesting that resulted from integrated resource management prescriptions.

• Reforestation was not keeping pace with needs and future production would be less than previously predicted.

• The range resource was threatened by serious knapweed infestations.

• The portion of the total forest land base actually available for commercial timber production.

• Chapter 1 introduces the document — its intent, content and structure.

• Chapter 2 provides an overview of British Columbia’s forest ecosystems — their history, climate, soil and vegetation — and introduces important resource values associated with British Columbia’s forests.

• Chapter 3 provides statistics about areas and volumes of timber harvested each year, areas regenerated and describes the Timber Supply Review process, including how the allowable annual cut (AAC) is determined.

• Chapter 4 provides information on the range resource in British Columbia, including inventories, maps and statistics on range condition and use.

• Chapter 5 provides information on the recreation resource in British Columbia’s forests, including inventories, maps and statistics on recreation opportunities and levels of use.

• Chapter 6 introduces the range and value of botanical forest products gathered from forest and range lands in British Columbia.

• Chapter 7 profiles past supply and demand for timber, range and recreation resources and makes some projections for future supply and demand of these resources.

• Chapter 8 describes the British Columbia Ministry of Forests and the ministry’s programs.

• Chapter 9 discusses forest policy (past, present and future) in terms of sustainable resource use.

Most statistics are presented graphically as histograms and pie charts to provide the reader with impressions of trends. The data used to construct charts are presented in an addendum to this report, published separately and available through the Ministry of Forests Research Branch, Victoria. The data tables in the addendum provide more detailed information and facilitate comparison with tables presented in the 1984 Forest and Range Resource Analysis. Appendix A contains a list of red- and blue-listed vertebrate species potentially affected by forest or range practices. Appendix B presents a summary of the timber supply analysis for the southern portion of the Kalum Timber Supply Area, Prince Rupert Forest Region. Appendix C contains a glossary and list of acronyms used in the report.

1.3 Regions for Analysis

Information in the 1994 Forest, Range and Recreation Resource Analysis is presented for the province and by forest region. Provincial land status (ownership and management) is summarized in Figure 1.2. Details are found in an addendum to this report. Regional profiles of land ownership, land classification and demographics are presented in Figures 1.3-1.8.

The 1984 Forest and Range Resource Analysis used eight resource analysis regions to present data, dividing the Prince Rupert Forest Region (into “interior” and “coast”) and Prince George Forest Region (splitting off “Prince George NE” for the area east of the Rocky Mountains). Forest region boundaries have changed little since the 1984 FRRA. The only substantive change is that the Queen Charlotte Islands, formerly in the Prince Rupert Forest Region, are now in the Vancouver Forest Region.

Consequently, the information reported for the Prince George Forest Region in this analysis approximates the combined inventories of the Prince George NE and Prince George Forest Regions reported in the 1984 analysis. The information reported for the Prince Rupert Forest Region approximates the combined inventories of Prince Rupert interior and Prince Rupert coastal regions reported in 1984.