Tree Farm Licence Brochure

Timber Supply Review

The Timber Supply Review (TSR) program began in 1992 to regularly review the timber supply and the allowable annual cut (AAC)* in each of the 37 timber supply areas (TSAs) and 34 tree farm licences (TFLs)* throughout the province.

While the legal mandate and guiding principles for TFL and TSA allowable annual cut (AAC) decisions are the same, the process for reviewing TFL AACs reflects the management responsibilities required in TFL agreements. TFL licensees are responsible for preparing a management plan and timber supply analysis, while the Ministry of Forests and other agencies are responsible for reviewing and approving all components at various stages in the TSR process.

The main objectives of the Timber Supply Review are to:

identify the economic, environmental and social information that reflects current forest management;
practices — including their effects on the short– and long–term timber supply;
identify where improved information is required for future timber supply forecasts; and
provide the chief forester with information to make any necessary adjustments to the AACs.

*Allowable annual cut (AAC) — The rate of timber harvest permitted each year from a specified area of land, usually expressed as cubic metres of wood per year.

*Tree farm licence (TFL) — A tree farm licence is an agreement between the provincial government and a licensee which grants the licensee the rights to manage the land and harvest the timber on a defined area of Crown land in accordance with Section 35 of the Forest Act.

The chief forester's role

Determining AACs for Crown forest land in British Columbia is one of the chief forester's most important responsibilities since it affects local and provincial economies, community stability and the environment — now and in the future. In recognition of this, Section 8 of the Forest Act, requires the chief forester to consider a wide range of factors such as:

the rate of timber production that may be sustained from the area;
the short– and long–term implications to the province of alternative rates of timber harvesting from the area;
constraints on the amount of timber produced from the area due to use of the forest for purposes other than timber production;
the nature, production capabilities, and timber requirements of established and proposed processing facilities;
the economic and social objectives of the Crown, for the area, the region and the province, as expressed by the minister of forests; and
abnormal insect or disease infestations and major salvage programs planned for the area.

Some of these factors can be measured and analysed — others cannot. Ultimately, the chief forester's determination is an independent professional judgement. The chief forester is not directed by the minister of forests when setting an AAC.

The timber supply review process

In accordance with Section 8 of the Forest Act, if the chief forester considers that the current AAC is not likely to be changed with a new determination, then the determination may be postponed for up to five years. Otherwise the chief forester is required to determine a new AAC at least once every five years. In addition, Section 35 of the Forest Act requires that licensees submit a management plan to the chief forester for approval. This plan includes the proposed management objectives and strategies for the management of timber, recreation and range and for the protection of fish and wildlife and other resource values. In most cases, when the chief forester sets the AAC, he also approves the management plan.

The management plan approvals and the AAC determinations for TFLs are completed through a 20–month process, which can be broken down into five key steps. Figure 1 below illustrates the estimated time required for each of these steps.

1. TFL management plan review

Ministry of Forest's staff in the regional offices conduct a review of the current management plan. After the review, they provide the TFL licensee’s with comments on the current management plan, the licensee’s performance in respect of the current plan, a list of guidelines currently in effect, and they may specify the location(s) and time designated for the draft management plan public review.

2. Timber Supply Forester (TSF) may request timber supply analysis information requirements

In preparing the information package to be used for the timber supply analysis, the TSF may request that the licensee provide other information readily available that the TSF considers to be relevant to the assessment of the timber supply of the tree farm licence area.

3. Developing the information package and draft management plan

3 (A) Timber supply analysis information package

The licensee submits a timber supply analysis package to the TSF, which includes the information, assumptions, and approach the licensee will be using in conducting the timber supply analysis. The TSF provides the licensee with a letter either accepting or rejecting the assumptions and methodology proposed in the information package.

3 (B) Draft management plan advertised and referred

The purpose of the draft management plan is to propose management objectives and strategies for achieving those objectives on Crown and private land within the TFL, which includes details on the status of various inventories. The draft management plan also provides an opportunity for the public and other agencies to review and comment on the proposed objectives and strategies.

The licensee provides an opportunity for public review of the draft management plan by publishing a notice in newspaper(s).

4. Timber supply analysis and twenty–year plan

4 (A) Timber supply analysis

The purpose of the timber supply analysis (analysis) is to present information regarding the short– and long–term timber supply forecasts that may be considered by the chief forester in the determination of the AAC for the TFL under Section 8 of the Forest Act.

The TSF will provide notice to the licensee accepting the analysis, which includes an assessment of both the strengths and weaknesses of the analysis.

4 (B) Twenty–year plan

The twenty–year plan is a non–operational plan that requires the district manager’s acceptance. The plan is also considered by the chief forester in the AAC determination. It confirms the ability to locate areas available for harvest, given constraints reflected in the timber supply analysis.

5. Proposed management plan and AAC

The licensee develops a proposed management plan for chief forester’s approval. It presents the objectives and strategies for managing resources within the tree farm licence area, and incorporates, where appropriate, comments from the Ministry of Forests, other agencies, and the public. The plan includes the accepted information package, analysis, and twenty–year plan.

The chief forester either approves, with or without conditions, or does not approve the proposed management plan, and determines the AAC. To determine an AAC, the chief forester considers these submissions, the factors described in Section 8 of the Forest Act, including the social and economic objectives of the Crown, and all other relevant information. The chief forester then determines the AAC and approves the management plan. The reasons for the AAC determination are documented in a rationale statement. The chief forester also outlines any conditions for the approval of the management plan in a letter to the licensee.

Figure 1. TFL management plan approval and AAC determination process

Public involvement in the timber supply review

Public involvement and comment are important in the Timber Supply Review. During the TFL process there are opportunities for the public to attend meetings, review reports and provide public input which the chief forester considers in an AAC determination. Figure 1 indicates where there are opportunities for the public to review the information during the Timber Supply Review.

A commitment to incorporate change

The Forest Act requires the chief forester to redetermine the AAC for each TSA and TFL regularly to ensure AACs are current and reflect new information, new practices and new government policies. Implementation of new major government initiatives such as the Forest Practices Code and Land and Resource Management Plans may have significant impacts on the timber supply in specific TSAs and TFLs. In these cases, the chief forester may determine the AACs more frequently.

This site was last updated: August, 2002