The following practices apply throughout the timber harvesting land base in the Merritt Timber Supply Area:
• Basic silviculture - British Columbia laws require that areas that are harvested and expected to produce timber in the future must be reforested with ecologically acceptable species within a specified time frame. The typical silvicultural practice is to harvest; site prepare (if necessary); reforest by planting a mix of species or by relying on natural regeneration; and control competing vegetation if required. It is assumed that harvested areas will be restocked within three to six years (TSAR page 56). Depending on ecological requirements, 79 per cent of the harvested areas are clearcut, followed by planting or natural regeneration; 21 per cent is managed using a selection silvicultural system.
• Forest health and unsalvaged losses - Timber losses due to wildfire, insects, diseases and wind damage are minimized as much as possible. Losses that cannot be salvaged or recovered are estimated to total 116 910 cubic metres per year:
• insects - 52 630 cubic metres
• fire - 38 715 cubic metres
• wind - 18 565 cubic metres
• miscellaneous - 7 000 cubic metres
• Harvest ages - The minimum harvest age is defined as the time it takes for trees to grow to a harvestable size. The minimum age at which a forest may be harvested in the Merritt Timber Supply Area ranges from 80 to 100 years, depending on the tree species and the quality of the growing site.
• Timber utilization - Within cutblocks, timber that meets or exceeds the following size limits and is suitable for manufacturing lumber or pulp chips is considered merchantable and must be utilized:
• diameter at stump: lodgepole pine - 15 centimetres; other species - 20 centimetres
• diameter at top: cedar older than 141 years - 15 centimetres; other species - 10 centimetres
• Soil conservation - Harvesting layout follows provincial and regional guidelines. For the timber supply analysis, 11.4 per cent of the timber harvesting land base with forests less than 21 years old was deducted for existing roads, landings, and major debris piles that have become non-productive due to harvesting. To account for future roads, landings and major debris piles, the remaining land base was reduced by 7.7 per cent.
