Size of the timber harvesting land base
Several respondents recommended that other planning processes and initiatives which affect the size of the land base (Protected Areas Strategy, Land and Resource Management Plan, Ecosystem Networks) be considered in the allowable annual cut determination. It was suggested that ignoring other initiatives results in an optimistic prediction of the land base available for timber harvesting. These respondents considered this irresponsible and suggested it revealed a timber bias in the Timber Supply Review process.
The technical critique questioned the validity of excluding agricultural Crown land from the land base. Instead, it suggested the value of agricultural land should be compared to the forest, range and dispersed recreational values it might generate as part of the Provincial Forest.
The technical critique identified similar concerns regarding the exclusion of land from the timber harvesting land base for wildlife and wilderness management and for integrated resource management. The critique stated the Ministry of Forests does not attempt to quantify the costs and benefits of these decisions.
Special management practices
One respondent suggested the present visual quality objectives do not consider the view from mountain tops, an important perspective in outdoor adventure travel.
Another suggested a shift from clearcutting to selection harvesting systems would maintain important habitats and viewscapes and could increase timber yields.
Timber growth and yield estimates
Surprise was expressed at the uncertainty surrounding the productivity estimates used in the Timber Supply Analysis. Respondents supported the development of more complete productivity information. Some suggested estimates should be conservative to allow for possible errors. It was noted that an increase in future growing capacity does little to improve the projected timber supply in the short term.
Some submissions identified two areas of uncertainty in the long-term timber supply: the productivity of the forest over several rotations and the quality of wood which will come from second-growth stands.
Species harvested and utilization
Comments concerning the economic potential of deciduous species were received and specific mention was made of the world market for birch lumber.
It was suggested that the utilization of timber could be improved by increasing milling efficiency and by putting all timber sales up for bid. As well, trees should either be utilized or they should not be cut.
Timber supply modeling assumptions
The technical critique rejected two assumptions used in the timber supply analysis: that timber supply levels can never fall below the long-term level and that the rate of decline must be between eight and 12 per cent. The critique suggested that if these assumptions were changed, the current allowable annual cut could be maintained for at least one more decade than is predicted in the base case.
