Overview
A Community Timber Permit is a timber disposition issued pursuant to section 22 of the Forests Act and sections 74.1 to 74.8 of the Timber Management Regulation, authorizing a person to harvest Crown timber. There are both coniferous community timber permits and deciduous community timber permits.
A ‘coniferous community timber permit’ means a timber disposition authorizing a person to harvest predominately coniferous timber and minor amounts of deciduous timber.
A ‘deciduous community timber permit’ means a timber disposition authorizing a person to harvest predominately deciduous timber and minor amounts of coniferous timber.
Timber permit size
The size of community timber permits can vary but are generally less than 5000 m3 and are issued to operators harvesting less than 21,000 m3 of timber.
Number of permits allowed
According to the Timber Management Regulation, 74.7(2), the total production for a 5-year period in respect of coniferous community timber permits and deciduous community timber permits shall not exceed 2 500 000 m3.
Community vs commercial timber permits
Community timber permits are issued by sale to local eligible small operators. The timber dues for coniferous community timber permits and deciduous community timber permits are set at a fixed timber dues rate as per the Timber Management Regulation.
Commercial Timber Permits provide authority to harvest timber to the permit holder. Commercial Timber Permit holders are not part of the community timber program. Commercial Timber Permits are allocated by competitive auctions and tenders, or non-competitively by direct sales. It includes coniferous and/or deciduous timber. Commercial Timber Permit holders pay the dues rate set in the Timber Management Regulation.
Reforestation obligations
In general, community timber permit holders pay a reforestation levy or fee to an authorized association for reforestation. The government sets reforestation standards. It also receives reforestation results for all timber dispositions. These results are monitored to ensure reforestation is successful.
How to get a permit
- Eligible persons may apply to become registered in a community timber program. Eligibility criteria can be obtained from the local forest area office.
- If a vacancy in the community timber program occurs, public notices for applications will be advertised on this website.
- Community timber permits are issued through a sale to persons registered in a Community Timber Program.
- Approved registrants will be notified by the forest area.
Community timber program and community timber permit issuance process diagram
Contact
Connect with your local forest area office, or:
Email: [email protected]