Public forest lands in British Columbia provide recreational enjoyment, fish and wildlife habitat, water supplies, timber resources and many other benefits. The Forest Service manages the forest, range and recreation resources on public lands. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks is responsible for the management of fish, wildlife and water resources and parks. Both agencies subscribe to the principle of integrated resource management, where all resources are considered before management decisions are made.
To facilitate integrated resource management, Total Resource Planning, a consultative decision-making process, has been used since 1989 in the Invermere Forest District. These comprehensive plans provide detailed direction to operational practices. More than 60 per cent of the Invermere Timber Supply area is currently included in approved Total Resource Plans. Public consultation on these plans occurs through annual open houses and meetings with specific stakeholder and user groups.
The timber supply analysis was based on current management practices in approved Total Resource Plans—practices actually being approved and implemented in the Invermere area in July, 1994, when the timber supply analysis was initiated. Readers are encouraged to review the Invermere Timber Supply Analysis Report (Pages 12 to 15 and Appendix A) for more detailed information.
