Arrowsmith Timber Supply Area
Last updated on June 11, 2026The Arrowsmith Timber Supply Area (TSA) is within the West Coast Natural Resource Region and is administered by the South Island Natural Resource District.
The Arrowsmith TSA is the second most densely populated TSA in the province. It includes the Capital Regional District (including the City of Victoria) as well as Duncan, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, North Cowichan, Parksville, Qualicum Beach, Port Alberni, Tofino and Ucluelet.
Partition
Under Section 8(5) of the Forest Act the chief forester in determining an AAC can specify a portion of the AAC that is attributable to certain types of timber, terrain, or areas of the TSA.
Effective February 9, 2018 the allowable annual cut (AAC) for the Arrowsmith TSA was 348,000 cubic metres. This AAC included three geographic partitions:
- a maximum of 50,000 cubic metres from the eastern portion of the TSA (Nanaimo and Cowichan timber supply blocks);
- a maximum of 6,850 cubic metres from the Clayoquot Sound integrated resource management area; and,
- a maximum of 291,150 cubic metres from the western portion of the TSA (Barkley timber supply block).
This cut level reflects the reduction in the timber supply area, with a transfer of treaty settlement lands to the Maa-nulth First Nations, the creation of a First Nations Woodland Licence (FNWL) and the Barkley Sound Community Forest.
Adjusted Allowable Annual Cut (AAC)
Effective January 31, 2025, the AAC for the Arrowsmith TSA is 272,911 cubic metres adjusted by the Allowable Annual Cut Administration Regulation following the creation of First Nations Woodland Licence (FNWL) N3P.
News release
- Arrowsmith Timber Supply Area gets slight reduction
Reference # 2018FLNR0009-000183* Released on February 9, 2018 (PDF, 520KB)
Current Timber Supply Review
- Old Growth Designated Area No. 1 Rationale for Allowable Annual Cut (AAC) AAC Reductions (PDF, 207KB) Effective September 11, 2020
- Chief Forester Order Section 173 of the Forest Act for the Arrowsmith Timber Supply Area (PDF, 53KB) Effective September 11, 2020
- Rationale for AAC Determination (PDF, 730KB) February 2018
- News Release Public Input (PDF, 481KB) November 2016
- Discussion Paper (PDF, 487KB) November 2016
- Updated Data Package (PDF, 1MB) November 2016
The Arrowsmith TSA is on the southern half of Vancouver Island, south of Campbell River and bordering TFLs 44, 46, 54, 57 and 61.
Contact information
Feedback is welcome on any issue related to the timber supply review for the Arrowsmith TSA. Public input is a vital part of the timber supply review process.