Issues raised in the Public Discussion Paper prompted some public input.
Allowable annual cut adjustment
Several comments were received about whether and how the allowable annual cut should be adjusted. Input varies from a suggestion that an immediate reduction be made to support for maintenance of the current cut.
One submission recommends the findings of the technical critique be incorporated into the allowable annual cut decision.
A forest industry submission, referring to the results of the technical critique, recommends the chief forester maintain the existing allowable annual cut until the next timber supply review is conducted. This submission also suggests a gradual decrease in the cut to the long-term harvest level, providing operational stability through the use of Forest Renewal BC funding to achieve future improvements in operability and timber productivity.
One respondent suggests decreasing the allowable annual cut immediately toward a fully sustainable timber supply level.
Another respondent expresses the opinion that harvesting constraints resulting from the Forest Practices Code can be absorbed at the level of the current allowable annual cut.
One submission notes inaccuracies in factors that affect the long-term harvest level and possibly the current allowable annual cut. These factors are site index, operable area and losses to roads.
