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 knowledge of the intentions of the Code are identified in this discussion paper.
Information will be provided to the chief forester on the timber supply impacts of these practices for consideration in this allowable annual cut determination. In most cases, however, further implementation and experience with the Code will be required before the timber supply effects of new practices 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 at least every five years after this review is completed to incorporate new information, practices and government policies. Implementation of major government initiatives such as the Protected Areas Strategy and the land-use recommendations of the Commission on Resources and Environment, and Land and Resource Management Plans may have significant impacts on the timber supply in specific timber supply areas and tree farm licences. In these cases the chief forester may require more frequent review of the allowable annual cut.
