Forest and Range Evaluation Program timber monitoring

Last updated on May 8, 2024

The Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) sets several objectives for timber under the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation, Section 6. Specifically, the objective “to maintain or enhance an economically valuable supply of commercial timber from British Columbia’s forests” is assessed by the FREP program.

On this pageFREP Timber Monitoring


Overview 

The health, productivity and diversity of our future forests depend on replacing harvested stands with new growth stands of the same or improved species mix and genetic diversity.

Priority question

"Are forest practices effective in producing new stands with appropriate tree species diversity, forest productivity and forest health?"


How timber value is evaluated

The timber value is evaluated using the Stand Development Protocol.

Previously harvested areas with stand age of 15-50 years are sampled to gather information on tree species, size and condition. Three specific questions are asked:

  • What is the species and genetic diversity of forest stands at free growing, compared to stands harvested before and after December, 2005?
  • What is the forest productivity (merchantable timber volume, value and availability) of forest stands at free growing, compared to stands harvested before and after December, 2005?
  • What is the health of forest stands at free growing, relative to stands harvested before and after December, 2005?