CANADA, August 13 -
Summary
- People in Cariboo region and surrounding communities are invited to read the timber supply review discussion paper for the Williams Lake timber supply area (TSA) and provide feedback
- Feedback will help the chief forester determine the new allowable annual cut, which defines the volume of timber that may be sustainably harvested from the TSA each year
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The public is invited to give feedback on the timber supply review for the Williams Lake timber supply area (TSA).
People can share their thoughts on the Williams Lake TSA discussion paper by submitting comments before Oct. 5, 2026.
The discussion paper provides the results of a timber supply analysis and describes the current legal requirements, geography, natural resources and forest management practices. The information will be used by B.C.’s chief forester to determine how much timber can be harvested in the TSA annually, which is known as the allowable annual cut (AAC).
Before setting the new AAC, the chief forester will consider input from First Nations, industry and community members. Public feedback is a part of every AAC decision and is an opportunity for communities to provide input, which will be considered during the AAC determination.
Ten First Nations communities are within the area of the Williams Lake TSA:
- Tl’etinqox (Anaham Band)
- Tsi Del Del (Alexis Creek First Nation)
- Yunesit’in (Stone Band)
- Xeni Gwet’in (Nemiah Valley Band)
- Tl’esqox (Toosey First Nation)
- Esk’etemc (Alkali Lake Band)
- Xat’sūll (Soda Creek Band)
- Williams Lake First Nation (T’exelc)
- Ulkatcho First Nation
- Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation (Canoe/Dog Creek Band)
In addition to the 10 First Nations communities located in the TSA, there are 18 First Nations that have asserted territories in the TSA. All 28 Nations have been invited to provide input on the timber supply review.
Administered by the Cariboo Natural Resource District, the Williams Lake TSA covers approximately five million hectares in the Cariboo region of B.C. and the AAC is nearly three million cubic metres per year.
When B.C.’s chief forester, who is a registered professional forester, makes an AAC determination, it is an independent, professional judgment based on information from:
- technical forestry reports
- First Nations engagement
- input from the public
- government’s social and economic objectives
Under the Forest Act, AACs must be reviewed at least once every 10 years for all 37 timber supply areas and 34 tree-farm licences in B.C.
For more information or to send comments, contact the Cariboo Chilcotin Natural Resource District via post or email.
Mailing Address:
Cariboo Chilcotin Natural Resource District
Ministry of Forests
200-640 Borland St.
Williams Lake, B.C.
V2G 4T1
Contact:
Kerri Howse, RPF
Land and Resource Manager
Kerri.Howse@gov.bc.ca
250-302-5728
Further information regarding the technical details of the timber supply analysis is available on request by contacting: Forests.ForestAnalysisBranchOffice@gov.bc.ca.
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