BC’s Chief Forester Reduces Allowable Annual Cut for Part of Southern Vancouver Island

On Monday, British Columbia’s chief forester announced a new allowable annual cut (AAC) level for Tree Farm License (TFL) 46, located on southern Vancouver Island. The new AAC for TFL 46 is 360,000 m³, a 5.5% reduction from the previous AAC set in 2012.

TFL 46 occupies a total area of 59,432 hectares and is located mainly on the west coast of Vancouver Island. TFL 46 overlaps the territories of nine First Nations: Cowichan Tribes, Ditidaht First Nation, Halalt First Nation, Lyackson First Nation, Pacheedaht First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, Stz’uminus First Nation, Ts’uubaa-asatx First Nation, and Snuneymuxw First Nation.

According to the news release, this decision recognizes the suspension of old-growth harvesting in the Fairy Creek Watershed and the Central Walbran Valley through orders, identifying them as temporary deferral areas within TFL 46. The current temporary deferral areas remain in place. This new AAC supports old-growth forests, accounts for wildlife habitat retention, visual quality, and First Nations cultural heritage resources and practices, while allowing for sustainable harvest levels.

The determination includes two partitions, or sections within the AAC, with specific rules:

• No more than 180,000 m³ can be harvested from forest stands more than 250 years old
• No more than 180,000 m³ can be harvested from stands 250 years old or less