Timber Supply Area Brochure

Timber Supply Review

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 environmental, social and economic 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

The process for determining AACs for TSAs is based on a four–step process, which takes approximately 20–months.  Figure 1 illustrates the estimated time required for each of these steps.

1. Data package

British Columbia Forest Service (BCFS) district staff, in co–operation with other resource agencies, assemble for the timber supply analysis the best available information on the current forest resource inventory and practices within the TSA.  Information about our forests, other resources, and management practices are summarized and documented in a data package.   BCFS staff ensure that timber tenure holders, stakeholders, First Nations and local government officials have an opportunity to review the data assumptions.  After the review of the data package, the BCFS staff make any necessary changes to the data and management assumptions that will be used in the timber supply area analysis report.

2. Timber supply area analysis report and public discussion paper

Computer models are used to project timber supply over 250–years based on the inventory information, expected growth, and management practices.  Since forests are complex and constantly changing, timber supply analysts evaluate the implications for timber supply of uncertainty about the variables in the inventory information and management practices.

The computer model is also used to generate a base case forecast — a timber supply forecast that illustrates the effect of current forest management on timber supply.  It is not an AAC recommendation, but rather, it is one of many pieces of information that the chief forester will consider when determining the AAC.

Other sections of the analysis report provide information about the social, economic and environmental aspects of the TSA, including:

• a description of the environment and ecology of the area;

• a description of the communities and industries in the area;

• a description of the timber harvesting and processing industries that rely on timber from the area;

• an assessment of current timber flows and employment conditions; and

• an assessment of the socio–economic impacts of adjusting the AAC.

The results of these analyses are compiled into a timber supply area analysis report.  This technical report is summarized in a public discussion paper.  Both documents are released for a 60–day public review and comment period.

3. Public review

During this 60–day public review period, the B.C. Forest Service actively solicits public input by holding meetings with interested parties, and in some instances open houses may be held in the communities within the TSA.  All public input collected at this time is presented to the chief forester.  It is summarized and documented in a summary of public input, which is available to the public once the chief forester has announced the new AAC.

4. AAC rationale statement and summary of public input

In determining an AAC, the chief forester considers the following information which falls under Section 8 of the Forest Act:

• the timber supply area analysis report;

• the summary of public input;

• the social and economic objectives of the Crown; and

• any other information the chief forester considers to be necessary.

After weighing all these factors, the chief forester sets the AAC for the next five years, and outlines the reasons in a rationale statement.  Once finalized, the rationale statement and the summary of public input are released to the public.

Public involvement in the timber supply review

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

A commitment to incorporate change

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.  Implementation of 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 than every five years.

This site was last updated: August, 2002