Volume 1 - Resource Management
Chapter 8 - Tenure Administration

Policy 8.18 - Woodlot Licence Program-Increase of Crown Land Area

Effective Date: 01-May-95
Updated: 15-Oct-97
Responsible Branch: Resource Tenures and Engineering Branch

Resource Management Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

Scope

This policy establishes the overall framework to increase the area of Crown land in existing woodlot licences.

Policy

It is the policy of this Ministry that the District Manager may authorize, subject to the regulation, increases to the area of Crown land in an existing woodlot licence at the time of its replacement.

Better Management

Increases in the area of the Crown land portion of a woodlot licence may be considered only when the increase will result in improved forest resource management in the woodlot licence, the surrounding management unit, or both.

Excellent Management

Increases in the area of the Crown land portion of a woodlot licence may be considered only when the licensee has demonstrated excellence in forest resource management on the existing woodlot licence by:

  • conducting harvesting operations according to approved cutting permits and with no unauthorized cutting
  • being current with all basic silviculture responsibilities
  • completing and submitting reports and plans
  • meeting all contractual and legislated time requirements
  • maintaining the harvest during 5-year cut control periods within 90% and 110% of the total of the allowable annual cuts (AAC) during those periods, unless otherwise approved in writing by the District Manager or the Regional Manager
  • completing and maintaining intensive forest, range, recreation, fisheries, and wildlife inventories on Crown and any private land portions of the existing woodlot licence as detailed in the approved management plan
  • meeting and maintaining all commitments in approved management plans for the existing woodlot licence
  • conducting and completing forest, range, recreation, fisheries, and wildlife enhancement and improvement projects on Crown and any private land portions of the existing woodlot licence, where such opportunities exist and they are detailed in the approved management plan
  • completing any other legislated, contractual, or other requirements in the approved management plan as the District Manager or the Regional Manager deems appropriate
  • promoting and demonstrating educational uses of woodlot licences, according to the approved management plan

All of the above elements of excellence in forest resource management must be met for a woodlot licence to be eligible for an increase to the Crown land area.

Evaluation Time Period

Licensee performance and conformity with the definition of excellent forest resource management shall be evaluated over at least the current 5-year period.

Maximum Area Increase

The Crown land portion of woodlot licences may be increased to not more than 400 hectares on the coast (Vancouver Forest Region and the North Coast Timber Supply Area), and not more than 600 hectares in the interior.

Request

For increases initiated by the licensee, the licensee must request, in writing to the District Manager, to increase the area of Crown land of the existing woodlot licence.

Consent

For increases initiated by the District Manager, the District Manager must obtain the consent of the licensee, in writing, to increase the area of Crown land of the existing woodlot licence.

District Plan

The District Manager should maintain records of:

  • areas of Crown land suitable for addition to woodlot licences
  • areas of Crown land that have been proposed as additions to specific woodlot licences

Referrals

The proposed increases must be referred to the appropriate resource agencies, licenced resource users, and aboriginal people for their input.

Management Plan

The licensee must submit a revised management plan to the District Manager that addresses the revised licence area. Additional inventory information will be required to determine a revised AAC.

AAC Source

The source of the additional AAC necessary to increase the Crown land area of individual woodlot licences shall be, in order of priority:

  1. woodlot licence apportionment
  2. Forest Service Reserve apportionment
  3. SBFEP Category 1 apportionment

Any apportionment revisions must be approved by the Minister of Forests.

References


General Procedures for Policy 8.18 - Woodlot Licence Program-Increase of Crown Land Area