Forest Management - W3 - Tenures + BCTS

How big is BC?

95 million hectares

OR

~100 million hectares

How is the BC land base divided? (i.e. Federal, provincial (crown), private)

• 94% of land in B.C. is crown (or provincially owned)

• ~5% is private (E&N, railways, municipalities etc.)

• ~1% is federal (Reserve land, military etc.)

• Crown land = timber is a public resource.

What is the tenure system?

The tenure system stratifies/breaks down the province into areas that can be leased to harvest timber or for other uses.

BC is stratified into 36 Timber Supply Areas (TSAs) which are usually administrative boundaries for tenures.

BC’s crown (provincial) land is leased to different organizations such as municipalities, private companies, and individuals who want to use the land through the tenure system

What responsibilities do licensees (or holders) of the tenure system carry?

• Criteria are outlined under FRPA (the 11 resource values i.e. Soil disturbance limits, managing water quality, steps to mitigate invasive species etc.)

• Must make forest management plans available for public review and comments.

What are the 11 resource values of FRPA?

• Biodiversity

• Cultural Heritage

• Fish / Riparian

• Forage & Associated Plant Communities

• Recreation

• Resource Features

• Soils

• Timber

• Visual Quality

• Water Quality

• Wildlife

What is stumpage?

• The amount you pay dependent on how much volume you harvest, grade, difficulty, etc.

• Revenue from timber is collected through stumpage (almost like a tax)

• Stumpage helps pay for social services such as hospitals, highways and schools (goes back to the community, education is subsidized through taxes which may come from stumpage)

• Basically a tax but can't be quantified as like 5 or 7%

Compare and contrast Area Vs Volume based tenures.

Area: Managing a forest instead of a cutblock. More flexibility in how you manage your areas. Long term security. Can manage for NTFP and other values recreation.

Can manage under one entity instead of many different logging operations = more cohesive.

Volume: Volume based tenures grant the licensee the ability to harvest a certain volume of timber within a timber supply area. - Several licensees may operate within the same area to whatever values they wants (typically monetary).

T/F: 80% of the tenures in B.C. are volume based, 20% are area based.

True

Compare and contrast replaceable vs non-replaceable tenures.

Replaceable:

Replaceable tenures generally last 20-25 years providing longer term security than are provided by shorter non-replaceable tenures.

Replaceable tenures responsibilities and terms may be updated every 5-10 years to reflect changes in government policy.

Non replaceable: Salvage is best example

Short term goals (beetle kill and wildfire salvage).

Non-replaceable tenures are granted for a fixed term to achieve specific goals, such as salvaging timber from wildfire or beetle kill.

Wildfire Salvage Opportunity Agreeements (WSOA) are a great example of a non-replaceable volume based licence, they last 5 years and range from 2,000 m3to 50,000 m3.

May specify volume of wood

T/F: Wildfire salvage logging can have a pronounced effect on hydrological functions.

True. One study found that sediment production was elevated nine-fold in burned areas and 37-fold in salvage logged watersheds.

(Good to understand paradigm changes like this and approach with a “walk gently” philosophy).

Compare and contrast large vs smaller tenures.

Large tenures:

• less money spent on silviculture.

• less money goes into the community.

• less jobs are created.

• very monetarily focused.

Small tenures:

• More likely to go “above and beyond” by investing more in silviculture i.e. more silviculture surveys and treatments such as commercial thinning and fertilization.

• Spend more money on wildfire risk amelioration.

• More money goes back to the community

• 83% more jobs are created (1 full time job per 2000 cumic meters)

What % of exports are forestry related? And what was the value of these exports in 2022?

29%. $11.5 billion

What % of forests are protected in B.C?

~15%

How would you describe the tenure system in clear plain language?

The tenure system is a way for the government to lease crown land to people for varying forest management activities as well as define and constrain the use of public forest resources.

What ministry authorizes public land to be used in the tenure system?

Ministry of Forests

List 7 other values that must be considered and met when managing a tenure.

Any of the 11 FRPA resource values

• Biodiversity

• Cultural Heritage

• Fish / Riparian

• Forage & Associated Plant Communities

• Recreation

• Resource Features

• Soils

• Timber

• Visual Quality

• Water Quality

• Wildlife

What act governs forest tenures? What are some of the considerations this act outlines in terms of forest tenures?

The Forest Act: Describes the type of tenure, length of the tenure, rights and obligations of the tenure holder, and how the tenure is administered.

Name 3 Acts (other than the Forest Act) that govern forest management in B.C. Briefly describe how each of these acts may affect forest management.

• Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA): Outlines how all forestry and range related practices/activities on crown lands should be conducted. Following the FRPA values can only benefit your forest management.

• Declaration of Rights of Indigenous People Act: Supports collaboration in managing the land base with First Nations and ensures that joint decisions or consent requirements are clear. You may require additional and/or more intensive consultations when planning in an area.

• Wildlife Act: Outlines the conservation and management of wildlife and habitats. May require you to plan around designated wildlife management areas, establish those areas, or to obtain the correct permits or licenses to work in a designated wildlife area.

Briefly explain Volume Based tenures.

The right to harvest a certain amount/volume of timber in a specified area. Multiple licensee might operate in the same area.

Briefly explain Area Based tenures.

Briefly explain Replaceable tenures.

Longer term security/timber supply, 20-25 years. Can be updated or replaced every 5-10 years to reflect updated policies.

Briefly explain Non-replaceable tenures.

Fixed term. Used for specific management goals (beetle or wildfire salvage, TSLs etc.)

Briefly explain Competitive Bids.

You must apply and bid on these types of tenures. They are advertised by the government, and applicants offer to pay stumpage and fees on merchantable timber, waste, and bonus bids. Tenure goes to the highest bidder.

Briefly explain Direct Awards.

Tenures that are awarded without advertising or applications. They can be issued to First Nations as part of treaty related matters or to facilitate oil and gas exploration, bioenergy, or small-scale salvage.

Why was BCTS created?

BCTS was created to set market prices for timber harvested on crown land. This was to essentially prove to the U.S. that Canada is not in fact charging too much for lumber.

What % of timber in B.C. is priced under the market pricing system?

20%

What were the first forms of timber tenure in B.C.?

Timber licences/leases or timber berths

What is the purpose of a site plan?

To show how they (the licensee) will meet government objectives for harvesting, silviculture, and road building activities. They include the locations of roads and cutblocks, as well as SUs, stocking standards, and soil management data.

What is the purpose of the province’s new Forest Operations Map?

The Forest Operations Map was created to streamline the process of interacting with the public about management plans and allows for public comment. Theoretically, it is much more efficient than posting an ad in a newspaper and holding an open house.

What is the purpose of a road permit?

A road permit authorizes road construction and maintenance of existing roads. Linked to cut control, rights to harvest, and management or use of adjacent materials.

Forest License: Volume or area based? Right to resources? Benefits and drawbacks.

• Volume

• Right to harvest an AAC in a TSA or TFL area.

• Benefit: replaceable or non-replaceable (may suit your needs to have the option), competitive or direct award – you may have the opportunity for a direct award.

• Drawback: You may need to hire harvesting contractors.

BCTS Timber Sale aka Licence to Cut: Volume or area based? Right to resources? Benefits and drawbacks.

• Volume and Area

• Right to harvest a certain volume in a specified area.

• Benefits: BCTS is responsible for reforestation, surveys, silviculture responsibilities, and getting the area to FG.

• Drawbacks: 4 years, Non-replaceable, less flexibility.

Tree Farm Licence:Volume or area based? Right to resources? Benefits and drawbacks.

• Area

• “Virtually exclusive” right to harvest and manage an area.

• Benefits: Can include private land, replaceable.

• Drawbacks: You are obligated to use a harvesting contractor for at least a portion of the volume each year.

Woodlot License: Volume or area based? Right to resources? Benefits and drawbacks.

• Area

• Exclusive harvesting and management rights, may include private land, competitive or direct award.

• Benefits: Replaceable, long-term stability. Flexibility in how you manage the area! Drawbacks: Any private land included must be managed under provincial legislation (FRPA, etc.)

CFA: Volume or area based? Right to resources? Benefits and drawbacks.

• Area

• Exclusive right to harvest an AAC in a specified area. May include rights for harvesting, management decisions, and NTFP sales.

• Benefits: Long-term stability (25-99 years), replaceable. More resources go to silviculture

First Nations Woodloand License: Volume or area based? Right to resources? Benefits and drawbacks.

• Area

• Exclusive rights for a First Nation to harvest timber, manage, and sell NTFPs or prescribed products.

• Benefits: 25-99 years, long term stability. More resources go to silviculture. FN values are protected in management of the area.

• Drawbacks: high stumpage

What tenure type is currently the most used in B.C?

Forest License – Replaceable

Who sets the AAC for larger tenures (such as TSAs?) What are some of the things that are weighed in these determinations?

The Chief Forester. Technical reports, public input, data analyses, and social & economic objectives are considered.

Who sets the AAC for CFAs, First Nations woodland licences, and woodlot licenses?

The Ministry of Forests regional executive directors or natural resource district managers.

How does stumpage and other revenue generated from forestry support the social, economic, and environmental values of British Columbia?

• This revenue pays for hospitals, health care, education, highways, infrastructure and maintenance.

• It supports jobs and funds sustainable forestry practices.

• Enables First Nations revenue sharing.

• Supports the development of sustainable energy sources.

What tenures would you advocate to be used more in B.C? List 3 reasons why

• Community Forest Agreements: They put money back into their community and tend to approach forestry more wholistically.

• First Nations Woodland Licenses: Management tends to be more focused on managing for values other than timber, First Nations land practices knowledge, and plant medicines.

• Woodlot Licenses: More flexibility with management and community engagement.

In your opinion how do historically larger tenures (such as Timber Licence, Tree Farm Licence) balance the social, economic, and environmental values of British Columbia? Are these larger tenures still needed? Why or why not?

I don’t think they are very balanced. They tend to put more into the economic leg of the stool. These big operations are expensive both monetarily and environmentally. I think that a shift to smaller tenures will put money back into communities that can then re-invest it into more sustainable forestry operations. It can also be invested into community enrichment/engagement, education, and infrastructure.

From an environmental stand point, I think these larger tenures tend to focus specifically on getting their management areas to free growing and then forgetting about it. A smaller tenure would be more likely to think of how their silviculture practices are affecting not only 1-2 generations but likely many generations following.

In short, I don’t think they’re necessary anymore and the idea of adopting smaller tenure types across the board seems very exciting.

In your opinion how do Community Forest Agreements, First Nation’s Woodland Licences, and Woodlot Licences balance the social values of British Columbia? Include a statistic.

These smaller tenures tend to be more actively involved in the community they operate in. When the public is heard and involved with planning, they tend develop deeper bond with the landscape and forest practitioners.

Their high-level commitment to engaging with the public attracts volunteers. It has been reported that more than 3500 hours of volunteer work were devoted specifically to accountability within the tenures involved in the BC Community Forest Association’s report.

CFAs also contribute almost $300,000 to education and outreach programs. This is vital for thriving communities and ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to engage in sustainable forestry practices.

In your opinion how do Community Forest Agreements, First Nation’s Woodland Licences, and Woodlot Licences balance the economic values of British Columbia? Include a statistic.

CFAs create local employment opportunities and put money back into the local economy. The BC Community Forest Association states that ~ $60 million was generated by community forests with an average of $1.8 million of that coming from each organization. These are typically in small communities with fewer than 10 000 people, which really emphasizes how impactful CFAs are.

In your opinion how do Community Forest Agreements, First Nation’s Woodland Licences, and Woodlot Licences balance the environmental values of British Columbia? Include a statistic.

Community forests plan for the long term and often go far beyond the bare minimum silviculture obligations. In the Community Forest Indicators 2025 report, they state that CFAs invested ~$2.8 million in silviculture treatments. Their intensive, incremental approach increases productivity, biodiversity, and forest health.