Small Scale Salvage - Forestry

Last updated on February 25, 2025

A small scale salvage licence is a specific type of forestry licence to cut that allows the harvest of up to 2,000 m3 in volume. The small scale salvage licences are managed through the province’s Natural Resource Districts via the Small Scale Salvage Program.

Historically used as a tool to address forest health issues, the Small Scale Salvage Program mandate was invigorated in 2004 to assist in the lodgepole pine salvage occurring throughout the central plateau due to the mountain pine beetle epidemic. Initially the Small Scale Salvage Program issued Forestry Licences to Cut via a conventional application process, where each licence could harvest up to 2,000 m3. Later in 2005/2006, a Professional Reliance model application process was adopted with a new volume limit of up to 2000 m3 per licence. In 2010, the Small Scale Salvage Program was expanded to include the recovery of roadside and landing waste, allowing secondary industries to utilize fibre left behind by primary logging.

The Small Scale Salvage Program is the only form of tenure available to the small market logger where the focus of the harvest must be on small isolated patches of timber that are dead and/or in danger of being significantly reduced in value, lost or destroyed and would otherwise not be harvested.

Salvage is defined as the harvest of the following:

  1. Dead and/or dying timber
  2. Trees which have been damaged or infested with insects and will die within one year; and
  3. Logging residue

Specific information regarding the Small Scale Salvage Program can be found below under the appropriate Natural Resource District. If you do not know which Natural Resource District you are interested in or the Natural Resource District is not listed, please review the contact page for a detailed map and office information

 

 

Contact information

Contact your natural resource district office or FrontCounter BC for more information about Small Scale Salvage licence.

Contact us if you have questions about Small Scale Salvage licence.