A new publication is providing an overview of forest management in the coastal region of British Columbia.
The BC Coast Report has been developed by the BC Market Outreach Network in collaboration with government ministries and agencies, industry and communitities. It covers land use planning, Clayoquot Sound, timber supply, old-growth forests, wildlife, First Nations and other topics.
The report says the region’s annual timber harvest reached a peak of 27.8 million m3 in 1980 but by 2001 it had fallen to 20.1 million m3. This declining trend is expected to continue for the next 50 years until the cut stabilises at about 17 million m3.
It says the breathtaking beauty of the coastal forests and the unparalleled recreational opportunities they offer make forest management “challenging”. The provincial government is attempting to meet this challenge by inviting all stakeholders to take an active role in land use and resource planning.