Forest Tenure Administration
Last updated on February 25, 2025The B.C. government administers and maintains the forest tenures system and the legislation, regulations, agreements, policies and procedures that address the occupation of Crown land and harvesting of Crown and private timber.
Allowable Annual Cut, Apportionment & Commitment Reports
The allowable annual cut (AAC) of each timber supply area (TSA) and tree farm licence (TFL) is determined by the chief forester at least once every ten years. The chief forester may also specify partitions—portions of the allowable annual cut—to different types of timber and terrain within a management unit.
Annual Rent & Fees
Annual rent and fees for tenures and permits asserts the government's interest in its property and resources and provides compensation.
Cut Control Administration
Agreements under the Forest Act may provide rights to harvest Crown timber as a specified cutting area, a maximum volume within an area or an allowable annual cut.
Decked Timber Administration
The B.C. government sells residual timber left on a site once harvesting by the primary harvester has been completed.
Electronic Submission Framework
The Electronic Submission Framework (ESF) is a secure extranet Web portal for data exchange designed to accept standardized XML/GML attribute and
spatial data submissions from forest clients external and internal to MOF. ESF currently supports submissions for FTA (Forest Tenures), RRS (Roads), RESULTS (silviculture), and Waste applications.
Old Growth Designated Areas
The B.C. government recently announced new protections and regulations around old growth and special trees.
- Read the announcement
- OIC 334 Fairy Creek Watershed Designated Area No 1 Extension (PDF 590KB)
- OIC 500 Old Growth Designated Areas (PDF 680KB)
- MO 232 Old Growth Order Designated Area No 1
- MO 233 Fairy Creek Watershed Designated Area No 1
- Read the Forest Act bulletin #7 on Old Growth Designated Areas (PDF 208KB)
- Old Growth Designated Areas Forest Tenures Overlap Map (PDF 1.5MB)
- Fairy Creek Watershed Designated Area Forest Tenures Overlap Map (PDF 443KB)
Special Tree Protection
- Read the announcement
- OIC 501 Special Tree Protection Regulation (PDF 23.9MB)
- OIC 375 Trees Designated Area No 1
- MO 278 Trees Designated Area No 1 and No 2
- Report a special tree or apply for exemption (PDF 3.4MB)
- Read the memo from Forest Tenures Branch (PDF 719KB)
- Review the Business Process Map (PDF 141KB)
- Read the questions and answers on the Special Tree Protection Regulation (PDF 156KB)
Residual Fibre Recovery
The B.C. government is working to improve the use of post-harvest waste timber left on road side and cut block landings which would otherwise be burned.
Subdividing or Consolidating Forest Tenures
Tree farm licence, pulpwood and forest licence agreement holders can subdivide or consolidate timber harvesting agreements.
Surrender of Forest Tenure Agreements
Agreements issued under Section 12 of the Forest Act can be surrendered in accordance with the Surrender Regulation. The process and requirements that must be met are described in the Surrender Regulation Guidelines.
Timber Harvesting Contract & Subcontract Mediation
You must use the mediator or arbitrator appointed to you by the ministry when resolving disputes.
Timber Tenure Transfers
Licensees who hold a timber tenure can transfer them to another party, with notice.
Map of tree farm licences, timber supply areas, natural resource regions, and districts.
Contact information
Contact us if you have questions about timber tenure administration.