Comments on government processes in the Nass Timber Supply Area are summarized here to indicate perspectives on issues that may influence timber supply in the future:
Protected Areas Strategy
A Protected Area was recommended around the Little Brown Bear Canyon near Highway 37 North.
Forest management practices
One submission recommends changing practices from large clearcuts and ground-based skidding to patch retention and creating spatial diversity in the forest. Another suggests that unlogged areas around lakes, water courses and other riparian areas should be wider and could incorporate values for recreation, spiritual solace, forest ecosystem networks, research, aesthetics and tourism.
Timber Supply Review process
Some submissions made specific comments about the Timber Supply Review Process:
• individual input should not be summarized
• the discussion paper failed to recognize issues that were identified in the timber industry critique for the Kalum North area, while the Kalum South analysis examined these issues
• since all timber supply areas must be reviewed within a short time frame, Ministry of Forests planning and inventory functions have been diverted from more urgent tasks
• information provided by consultants on forest productivity estimates and long-term timber supply level should have been included in the discussion paper. Furthermore, the paper should have stated there is no need to panic as revisions can be made every five years and will incorporate better information
