Public forest lands in British Columbia provide recreational enjoyment, fish and wildlife habitat, water supplies, timber resources and many other values. The Forest Service manages the timber, range and recreation resources on public lands. B.C. Environment is responsible for management of fish, wildlife and water resources. Both agencies subscribe to the principle of integrated resource management, where all resources are considered before management decisions are made.
The timber supply analysis was based on existing land-use designations and current management practices—the practices that were actually being approved and implemented in the timber supply area when the data package was created. Future changes in management practices resulting from initiatives such as the Forest Practices Code, or changes in land-use designations resulting from the Land and Resource Management Plan will be considered following implementation.
To recognize various forest management activities and objectives and to assess the timber supply impacts of current practices, the timber harvesting land base was separated into two forest management areas as described below:
• Integrated resource management area - includes the timber harvesting land base where integrated resource management is practiced (105,000 hectares or 92 per cent of the timber harvesting land base).
• Visual quality management area - includes important viewscapes from the Skeena River, Inside Passage and Work Channel where scenic landscapes are being protected (9,500 hectares or eight per cent of the timber harvesting land base).
The forest management practices that were being approved and implemented in each management area when the data package for the timber supply analysis was prepared in August 1993 are briefly described below. These practices were based on the Interim Harvesting Guidelines for the Coastal Portion of the Prince Rupert Forest Region. Readers are encouraged to read Appendix A of the North Coast Timber Supply Area Timber Supply Analysis Report (TSAR) or review the data package for more detailed information.
Since the data package was completed, new initiatives have been announced by the Ministry of Forests that have changed forest practices in the North Coast Timber Supply Area. These initiatives, where they differ from those used in the timber supply analysis, are also described in this section.
