Previous projections concerning mid-term timber supply in the Quesnel Timber Supply Area (TSA) have turned out to be overly conservative. According the results of the just completed Type 4 Silviculture Strategy, the Quesnel TSA contains 600,000 cubic metres more green wood than originally projected.
“We had thought that the numbers were going to shake out that way,” said B.C. Liberal member of legislative assembly for Nechako Lakes John Rustad. “The inventory is showing more green wood amidst the dead pine than we originally anticipated.”
According a Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations statement released on Nov. 30, the primary causes of this increase were identified as “lower pine mortality estimates in young stands, more live pine remaining in older stands and new managed stand site productivity estimates that theses stands will grow faster than previously thought.”
The ministry’s statement also emphasized two things. First, that an increase in projected mid-term supply does not mean that the current Annual Allowable Cut will be changed. And also, because the mid-term supply projections concern timber that will not be economically viable for another 20 years, the projection depends upon careful and well planned harvest levels in the intermediary years.
The Lakes TSA is also receiving a type 4 silviculture analysis and according the ministry responsible, the analysis should be complete by the end of March, 2013.
“It’s still too early to tell,” said Rustad, “but hopefully we’ll see the same kind of results we’re seeing in Quesnel.”