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Wood Supply Analysis 2011 - 2015

The province developed its first 20-Year Forest Development Plan in 1984 and initiated a planning cycle where plans are generated every five years. In 1989, the first formalized Wood Supply Analysis was undertaken and this analysis is now a legislative requirement every five years. This allows for the tracking of changes in the forest land base, the implementation of new management strategies and the opportunity to address differences detected in forest growth rates compared to previous forecasts.

The volume of timber that can be harvested each year on a sustainable level is determined by the Wood Supply Analysis and is referred to as the Annual Allowable Cut. The Annual Allowable Cut defines the maximum annual rate at which timber can be harvested in the province on a sustainable level into the future.

The position of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is that timber harvesting be conducted in a sustainable manner that does not exceed the established Annual Allowable Cuts. The Forestry Act requires the province to establish an Annual Allowable Cut for each Forest Management District in the province.

The new total provincial Annual Allowable Cut has two components – the maximum softwood and hardwood species that can be harvested for the period April 1, 2006 to March 31, 2010. The 2006 softwood allocation has been set at 2,311,430 cubic meters, while the hardwood allocation has been set at 224,250 cubic meters.

The 2006 softwood allocation represents a reduction of 3.2 per cent compared to 2001.

The figures for softwood and hardwoods incorporate both Class I and Class III timber. Class I represents good economic harvesting opportunities and consists of easy to access, mature forest stands. Class III timber represents less than optimal economic harvesting opportunities and are comprised of scattered and isolated stands that are more difficult to access.

The calculation of the new AAC was completed using the computer software model referred to as ‘Woodstock’. This model is used by seven other provinces and presents the best model for wood supply analysis of the forests on the island. The ‘Woodstock’ model allows for forest managers to identify with greater accuracy new land alienations and to recognize new environmental and wildlife values and objectives.

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