The Fort Nelson Timber Supply Area (TSA) is one of the most diverse land bases in the province with many resource and land use options. not only does the are have an abundant forest resource, but the TSA has world renown wildlife resources, and opportunities to develop the energy resource. There is room for all these resources to be cooperatively managed for the benefits of society.
The Fort Nelson TSA consists of about 8.2 million hectares which is about 8.6 per cent of the total provincial area of about 94.8 million hectares. Of this, about 4.3 million hectares are productive forest land of about 45.6 million hectares. Currently, the net land base which supports the present allowable annual cut, is about 667,000 hectares. There is an additional forest resource outside the current net land base on about 2.6 million hectares, which at this time cannot be utilized by the existing forest industry.
The area not currently being operated in by the forest industry, is being managed for other resource uses, such as energy exploration, and commercial guiding and hunting operations. This largely peaceful coexistence will probably not continue forever. In recognition of this, the planning process for this TSA has developed land use designations which will guide all resource development of the TSA. Part of the purpose for this report is to determine the timber supply impacts of this land use plan. The Resources Units developed for the plan, will not have a large impact on the timber supply of the TSA. If the forest resource is harvested and managed correctly, the designation of resource units can result in an increased timber supply.
The timber supply analysis shows that there is a good opportunity to increase the timber supply of the TSA. However, in the past, low volume stands and lodgepole pine stands are a component of the forest profile that has not been fully harvested. If this trend continues, the current coniferous harvest rate must be reduced by about 27 percent to reflect the deduction of the portion of the Productive Forest which is currently considered unmerchantable. Similarly, if basic silviculture standards are not practiced, the current coniferous harvest rate must be reduced by about 45 percent. However, if the full forest profile can be harvested, and basic silviculture is practiced, the coniferous harvest rate could increase by about an additional 10 percent and possibly by as much as 30 percent. If incremental silviculture is practiced in addition to basic silviculture, the harvest rate could increase by as much as 43 percent.
A similar situation applies to the utilization of the Balsam Poplar (Cottonwood) resource. It appears, based on current merchantability definitions, that the cottonwood harvest rate must be reduced by about 74 percent. However, there does not appear to be any potential to increase the current cottonwood harvest rate.
Any substantial immediate increase in timber
supply will result from the close utilization of aspen.
Since the last timber supply analysis in this TSA, aspen has
become a commercial species. Presently, the resource is not being
utilized to its potential. The sustainable harvest rate, based
on the current aspen merchantability standards, is above the present
aspen harvest rate. Depending on the use of the resource, and
what is merchantable by those standards, the harvest rate could
increase dramatically, allowing for new forest product opportunities.