Over a thousand British Columbians derive their income directly from salvaging individual trees or small patches of diseased or fallen timber considered uneconomic for the commercial forest industry. These small-scale salvagers have been required to hold a timber sale licence for each extra patch of salvage timber, which has been costly for government and cumbersome for salvagers.

The Ministry of Forests will continue to manage this program as part of a one-year transition to a more efficient, competitive salvage system. The ministry will also begin issuing salvage-based non-replaceable forest licences. These licences will be competitively awarded and entitle the successful applicant to do small-scale salvage logging in a particular area, which may include many patches, not just one. The licences will reduce government administration and give small-scale salvagers more control over their operations.

The first salvage-based non-replaceable forest licences are likely to be advertised later this spring.

During the transition period from April 1, 2003, to March 31, 2004, government will continue to issue some traditional small-scale salvage timber sale licences while advertising and awarding the new salvage-based non-replaceable forest licences. This transition will give salvagers time to create business plans and build relationships necessary to compete successfully for these licences.

Government will introduce legislation to create a new form of salvage tenure called the community salvage licence. These licences will create new forest sector opportunities specifically for communities, including First Nations, that want to take an enhanced role in the small-scale salvage industry.

When legislation is passed, community salvage licences could be available later in the 2003-2004 fiscal year, after policy and procedures are completed.

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