The technical critique confirms the results of the timber supply analysis carried out by the Forest Service. Using the same assumptions regarding size of the land base, forest productivity and management practices, the critique obtained the same estimate of timber supply for at least the next 30 years.
The critique also includes an analysis of the impact of using different ages for defining older forests, using different estimates for the extent of selective harvesting, and using different estimates for timber productivity estimates associated with selective harvesting. The critique indicates there is no difference in the timber supply shown in the forest service analysis for the next 30 years and only a slight change after 30 years.
In their submission, the licensee association makes the following additional points:
• the exclusion of problem forest types from the analysis raises concerns about the mutual impacts of the various types of licences existing in the timber supply area. The association proposes that a comprehensive analysis of the entire timber supply is required to ensure commitments to all licensees are met.
• development of the timber resource must not be considered a residual activity to be acted upon after all other users have been accommodated. The development and achievement of resource targets, as recommended in the Cariboo-Chilcotin Land Use Plan, is important.
