A Forest Practices Code Act for British Columbia was passed in the Legislature in July, 1994. This law requires better forest practices throughout the province, and establishes heavy penalties for violators. When the Code is fully implemented, forest management practices will be changed to meet its requirements. These new practices may influence both short- and long-term timber supply. Practices which have recently been implemented based on current understanding of the intentions of the Code are identified in this discussion paper.
Other major government initiatives such as the Protected Areas Strategy, the Commission on Resources and Environment (CORE) and Land and Resource Management Plans may also have significant impacts on timber supply in specific timber supply areas and tree farm licence areas.
Where possible, information will be provided to the chief forester on the timber supply impacts of the actual and expected changes in practices resulting from these initiatives for consideration in this allowable annual cut determination. In most cases, further implementation and experience will be required before the timber supply effects of these initiatives can be properly assessed, making it necessary to incorporate these factors in future allowable annual cut determinations. The Forest Act requires the chief forester to reassess the allowable annual cut for each timber supply area and tree farm licence area at least every five years after this review is completed to incorporate new information, new practices and new government policies. Where the timber supply impacts of these initiatives are significant the chief forester may decide to determine the allowable annual cut more frequently than every five years.
