Allowable Annual Cut Level Increased for Tree Farm License 53, Located in the Central Interior Near Quesnel

Albert Nussbaum, British Columbia’s acting deputy chief forester, has set a new allowable annual cut (AAC) level for Tree Farm License (TFL) 53 in the central Interior near Quesnel. It goes into effect immediately.

Under the Forest Act, the chief forester must determine the AAC in each of the province’s 37 timber supply areas and 33 tree farm licenses at least once every 10 years.

The new AAC for the TFL is 240,000 cubic meters. This is an increase of approximately 9.6% from the previous AAC of 219,000 cubic meters, which was set in 2010. The new AAC reflects objectives for all forest resource values and input provided by the Lheidli T’enneh Nation.

TFL 53 overlaps with the territorial boundaries of the Lheidli T’enneh Nation, Lhtako Dene Nation, Nazko First Nation, and Tsilhqot’in Nation. Prior to this determination, First Nations were consulted on the Information Package and Draft Management Plan in accordance with provincial guidance.

TFL 53 is held by Dunkley Lumber Ltd. and covers an area of 87,839 hectares. The TFL was heavily affected by the mountain pine beetle epidemic that peaked in the mid-2000s, and the licensee implemented a successful salvage program.

The deputy chief forester has encouraged the licensee to work with First Nations to update its biodiversity plan and to incorporate riparian and road-management planning, both operationally and at the district and regional levels, through land-use and management planning.