The B.C. government is expanding the mandate of BC Timber Sales (BCTS) to better support communities, forestry jobs, and the long-term health of the province’s forests.
This shift follows a comprehensive task force review, which identified the need for BCTS to move beyond timber auctions and price-setting to play a more active role in forest management and economic development.
Under the new mandate, BCTS will support First Nations partnerships, value-added wood manufacturing, and climate-adapted forestry practices. It will also focus on improving forest health, wildfire resilience, and community benefits.
Early actions include auctioning commercial thinning sales to reduce fire risk and improve tree growth, doubling fibre access for smaller mills, and simplifying the auction process for small businesses. Efforts are also underway to ensure more local logs stay in local communities.
The task force gathered input from more than 50 stakeholders and 300 public submissions. Their recommendations aim to build a more diverse, resilient forestry sector that supports jobs and communities while protecting the environment.
The Ministry of Forests says more changes will roll out in phases to meet the evolving needs of B.C.’s forests and forest-based communities.
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