Size of the timber harvesting land base
One industry submission suggests the economic situation has improved since the timber harvesting land base was mapped. It suggests the timber harvesting land base can be increased by at least five per cent based on today's market prices.
Another submission suggests a moratorium be placed on logging the smaller islands along the north coast and that the vista across from Prince Rupert be taken out of the timber supply area.
A third submission notes the timber harvesting land base can change over time and that it is important that all species and age classes be available over time.
The Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks suggests that the Timber Supply Analysis Report projections do not provide for maintenance of biodiversity or old growth, beyond the protection offered by streamside buffers. Furthermore, the percentage of the land base removed as streamside buffers may be too low to protect riparian habitats.
Old growth values
One submission suggests there will not be any high quality old growth timber for future harvesting. The respondent proposes setting aside old growth forests since their increased value will exceed increases in interest rates or stock exchange indexes, especially as world demand increases.
One respondent requests a sensitivity analysis of a 300-year rotation period in order to examine the protection of old growth values. The respondent claims that old growth in adjacent non-productive areas does not adequately represent old growth values because the non-productive areas are part of a different ecosystem.
Another respondent suggests longer rotations are required to preserve older trees which may be valuable as wildlife trees or pest traps. Furthermore, older trees may release hormones to warn younger, neighbouring trees of potential attack by infectious organisms.
Forest management practices
The Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks notes that a one-pass harvest system does not protect old growth and biodiversity across the landscape. Harvesting must be spread over the landscape and over time to maintain the diverse habitats required for wildlife populations.
