Employment and community impacts
Some submissions question the estimate in the Socio-Economic Analysis that 2.2 person-years of indirect employment is generated in the province by each direct person-year of forestry employment in the Fraser Timber Supply Area. No documentation to support these perceptions or alternative estimates are provided. These submissions emphasize that reductions in the allowable annual cut would result in layoffs for companies which service the forest industry. Some submissions suggest the Socio-Economic Analysis does not adequately acknowledge that urban areas will be affected by the lost revenues that will result from a reduction in the allowable annual cut.
Some individuals and local government point out that timber harvesting and silvicultural activity in the timber supply area should benefit local communities. There are concerns that local mills sometimes have a difficult time finding wood supply, indicating the need for strategies to support local manufacturing. Concern is expressed in the timber industry submissions about the ability of communities which are heavily dependent on harvesting jobs, including Hope and Chilliwack, to adjust to reductions in the allowable annual cut.
The timber industry is also concerned about the cumulative effects of allowable annual cut reductions throughout the province on Fraser Valley mills which depend on timber supply from a number of sources. One timber company recommends that a regional approach be used to address this issue, but this approach is not expanded upon. In contrast, one individual indicates employment is not as important an issue in the Fraser Timber Supply Area as in other parts of the province.
While local governments recognize that short-term job losses may be offset with
increased value-added manufacturing, commercial thinning and intensive silviculture which would also benefit the long-term timber supply, they contend that the burden of developing strategies to address job losses should not be placed solely on local governments; the provincial government should also provide resources to deal with expected unemployment. Many submissions acknowledge the potential of the Forest Renewal Plan to offset projected job losses.
Non-timber values
Some submissions suggest that benefits from non-timber values such as mushrooms, botanical forest products (greens, boughs, etc.), forest recreation and tourism have not been adequately accounted for in the Socio-Economic Analysis. The Outdoor Recreation Council contends the analysis fails to address the impacts of current management practices and future options on non-timber resource values such as recreation and fish and wildlife.
First Nations
One First Nation feels the Socio-Economic Analysis does not address their concerns about sustainability within their traditional territory. This First Nation believes the allowable annual cut should not be set until the issues of economic benefits and sustainability within their traditional territory are addressed.
The Nlaka’pamux Nation Tribal Council expressed concern that the Forest Service is "planning a big increase in the rate of harvesting on our lands to compensate for the large areas in the Fraser Valley being removed from the working forest." This is in reference to the ‘log-around’ strategy that is being implemented to defer harvesting in areas that are currently under review for protected status under the Protected Areas Strategy or the Spotted Owl Interim Conservation Strategy.
