The provincial Ministry of Forests has recognized the importance of the Squamish Nation's Wild Spirit Places in its most recent harvesting regulations for Tree Farm Licence 38, located in the upper Elaho Valley.
TFL 38 is managed by the Squamish Nation's Northwest Squamish Forestry Limited Partnership.
About 17 per cent of the 189,000-hectare licence area is suitable for timber harvesting.
Deputy chief forester Henry Benskin announced late last month that the area's allowable annual cut will remain at 250,500 cubic metres with new limits on harvesting activity.
"I have recognized the cultural importance of the Wild Spirit Places to local First Nations and the limitations on harvesting in these areas," said Benskin.
"However, under the Forest Act, I'm required to determine an allowable annual cut for the entire tree farm licence, therefore I've attributed a portion of the cut to the Wild Spirit Places to ensure the remaining area of the licence is limited to a sustainable harvest level of 171, 000 cubic metres per year."
Concerned about logging and urban sprawl rapidly eating up their natural landscape, the Squamish Nation completed a land use planning process for the forests and wilderness of their territory in 2001.
As a result, the Squamish Nation Band Council began designating Wild Spirit Places where logging and industrial development are prohibited.
Today, there are five Wild Spirit Places and two Sensitive Areas, which are proposed for Wild Spirit Place status. All seven are located in the Squamish/Whistler area comprising 100,000 hectares of spectacular tracts of glacier crowned mountains, cascading rivers and ancient forests.
The Western Canada Wilderness Committee has long campaigned for recognition of Wild Spirit Places and the organization's campaign director Joe Foy said the announcement is a good sign.
"The BC government deserves a lot of credit for moving forward with land use planning that takes into account the Squamish Nation's wishes," said Foy.
"So now that the BC government appears to be heading in the right direction we think that is a very good thing for everyone."TFL 38 is situated within the Sea to Sky Land and Resources Management Plan (LRMP) area.
The provincial government is currently reviewing the land-use plan and, depending on the outcome, it may have implications for allowable timber supply for the licence.
"Now we are waiting to see the results of the Sea to Sky landuse process. Hopefully we won't have long to wait and will be pleased with it's outcome," said Foy.
Within six months of the government's approval of the land-use plan, the deputy chief forester has instructed Northwest Squamish Forestry Limited Partnership to prepare a timeline for developing a new management plan and a new timber supply review.
A new allowable annual cut can be determined earlier in response to unique situations such as a new land-use plan, according to a provincial news release, or it may be postponed for another five years if the harvest level is not expected to change significantly.
