Input on the determination of the allowable annual cut recommends either a maintenance of the current level or an immediate reduction.
Two forest industry submissions point to the conclusions reached by the licensees' analysis and maintain there is no biological reason to reduce the allowable annual cut. With this same information, the East Kootenay Regional District and the IWA agree the cut should be maintained at the current level unless the Forest Service can prove the critique to be in error.
The East Kootenay Environmental Society (three submissions) and one individual submission support an immediate reduction in the allowable annual cut because of the need to protect conservation values, to be conservative with remaining, high-quality natural forests, and to have some leeway in case of a catastrophic event.
One East Kootenay Environmental Society submission describes a 10 per cent reduction as a step toward sustainable forestry although it will still compromise biodiversity.
