Volume 1 - Resource Management
Chapter 8 - Tenure Administration

Policy 8.16 - Cruise Based Sales

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

Resource Management Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

Scope

This policy applies where timber is sold and billed based on only timber cruise information. Cruise based sales are authorized by Section 106 ("cruise instead of scale") of the Forest Act.

It is the intent of this policy to permit cruise based sales with appropriate restrictions to minimize the risk of loss of revenue.

Timber cruising in the province is designed for scale based sales but can be sufficiently accurate for cruise based sales in certain situations. The potential sources of inaccuracy are the loss factors, taper equations, grade/quality, and area determination.

Policy

Cruise based sales will only be approved when the Regional Manager, or delegated District Manager, is satisfied that:

  • the loss factors, taper equations, and grade/quality standards proposed for use are appropriate; and that
  • utilization will be improved (compared to scale based sales); or,
  • administration will be simplified

Restrictions

Before timber is sold as a cruise based sale:

  • the timber must be cruised, the area determined by closed traverse, and the cutting boundaries and leave trees marked in the field; and,
  • the cruise and compilation of the timber must be checked

Definitions

  • Cruise based sale: A cutting permit, timber sale licence, or other cutting authority that provides for Crown timber to be sold and billed using the provisions of Section 106 of the Forest Act.
  • Loss factors: Estimates of decay, waste, and breakage that are used to reduce the gross volume determined by a timber cruise to estimate the net volume.
  • Taper Equations: A mathematical representation of the shape of the tree, which is used to calculate tree volume.

Responsibilities

Director, Timber Harvesting Branch

  • to maintain policies and general procedures for the use of cruise based sales

Director, Valuation Branch

  • to determine an acceptable standard of precision for timber cruises, cruise compilations, area determination, and loss factors, and to set minimum standards for determining local loss factors. This will minimize the risk of lost revenue for cruise based sales

References

General Procedures for Policy 8.16 - Cruise Based Sales