Timber management
Last updated on February 24, 2026
Comprehensive timber management goals and targets are essential to maintain forest productivity, sustainability and health. While goals and targets are future focused to ensure a long-term supply of timber across the province, annual reviews and reporting requirement measure compliance at the local, regional and provincial level.
British Columbia has the largest and most diverse public forests in Canada. The province is divided into management units consisting of 38 timber supply areas (TSAs) and 34 tree farm licenses (TFLs). Local level planning takes place within these management units.
Timber management goals
The management of timber considers a variety of measurable goals and targets including:
- Timber volume flow over time to ensure a predictable and long-term supply of timber
- Timber quality to provide an adequate supply of premium grade timber
- Tree species composition to increase forest resiliency through mixed species stands
- Stand productivity and growing stock goals focus on stands trends including health, density and genetics. Specific goals can include minimizing reforestation delays and improving tree genetics through seed selection
- Inherent site capacity goals include increasing productive area by reducing the permanent landscape impacts of forestry activities
Goals and objectives are regularly refined to address changing forest conditions as impacted by climate change, public priorities and science advances.
Publications
This document aligns provincial objectives for forestry with government planning and forest legislation guidance (such as the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation) and aids in tracking performance on the ground using measurable targets.