Natural Resource Online Services

STUMPAGE AND VOLUME ESTIMATION TOOLS

Is this tool for you? The OLTC stumpage and volume estimation tool is built for those who are operating on Crown or private land and want to cut, damage or harvest Crown trees. Find out who needs an OLTC.

What is the purpose of the tool? The stumpage and volume estimation tool will give low-volume applicants (under 2,500 cubic metres in the Coast regions, or under 5,000 cubic metres in non-coastal regions) an estimate of the merchantable timber volume on their site and how much stumpage they may have to pay if they harvest the trees. Determine your Natural Resource Region and District here.

The tool will save clients time and money by providing a simple, more transparent way to estimate timber harvesting costs. Clients will be able to decide whether or not to proceed with their OLTC application before investing any money.

For guidance only! Note that the tool produces estimates for guidance only. At this time, these estimates cannot be used in an OLTC application. An OLTC application requires formally produced estimates from a Registered Forest Professional. Find a Registered Forest Professional here.

 

DEFINITIONS

Occupant Licence to Cut (OLTC)

An OLTC allows applicants to cut, damage and/or remove Crown timber from Crown or private land for a cost.

An OLTC is required when a person or company has legal authority to occupy Crown or private land but does not hold the rights to cut or harvest the trees. In all cases, the applicant must hold a right to occupy Crown Land and must use the land being harvested through a “right of occupation", a lease or a special use permit. Clearing land for a fence on a grazing lease is an example of when an OLTC may be issued. More information can be found here.

Merchantable Volume

This is the amount of sound wood contained in a stand or area of trees, measured in cubic units (e.g. cubic metres per hectare), that have attained sufficient size and quality to be suitable for harvesting.

Total Volume

This is the total amount of merchantable and non-merchantable wood contained in a stand or area of trees, measured in cubic units (cubic metres per hectare), inside the bark.

Stumpage/Stumpage Rate

Stumpage Rate is the fee that individuals and firms are required to pay to the government when they harvest Crown timber in British Columbia with a cutting authority. A stumpage rate is determined by an appraisal of the volume of timber to be harvested. A registered forest professional submits an appraisal and a government statutory decision maker determines the stumpage rate for the species and volumes of timber to be harvested.

Vegetation Resource Inventory (VRI)

A survey using photo interpretation and ground sampling to determine the area, timber condition, timber volume and species in a forest. The VRI is used for specific purposes such as planning, purchasing, evaluating, managing or harvesting. The VRI tree species and timber volume information is used for estimating both volume and stumpage rates.

Controlled Recreation Area

This is an area of Crown land on which a ski hill/resort area is permitted almost exclusive rights to operate under the authority of a licence granted by the provincial government. These areas have their own tabular stumpage rates for harvesting timber.

Timber Cruise

For the purposes of appraising timber to be harvested, field data including tree species, volumes and quality of timber is collected by measuring and recording information obtained in sample plots.

 

Coniferous vs. Deciduous

For the purposes of this application:

• Coniferous means trees with needle or scale-like leaves, most often evergreen. These include species such as balsam, cedar, cypress, larch, fir, hemlock, pine, spruce and yew.
• Deciduous means broadleaved trees that shed their leaves annually. These include species such as alder, arbutus, aspen, birch, cottonwood, maple and willow.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Is there a size and volume threshold for using these guidance tools?

No. Volume can be estimated for areas of any size - up to the web mapping limit of 20,000 hectares. However, stumpage cannot be calculated on merchantable timber volumes over 2,500 cubic metres in the Coast regions or 5,000 cubic metres in the Interior (non-Coastal) regions.

 

2. Can I use the stumpage and volume estimates from these tools in my Occupant Licence to Cut application?

No. At this time, the tool provides guidance information only, and an estimate of costs for the potential cutting activity. A Registered Forest Professional must conduct an appraisal of the area of interest and provide estimates for the application.

Find a Registered Forest Professional here.

 

3. What is a category of interest?

A category of interest indicates the type of land use anticipated to be carried out on an area. The category of interest selected does not influence the volume or stumpage estimates but does change the information displayed in the map window.

 

4. What is the Geographic Area?

The area of interest selected by the proponent will be located within an administrative area (Natural Resource District, Region, or timber supply area), called more generally a Geographic Area. The Geographic Area determines the rate used in estimating the stumpage for the area of interest.

 

5. How is the stumpage for trees to be harvested determined?

The stumpage rate for harvesting trees is based on many factors including species, location and number of trees. This information is gathered from the client using the Volume Estimation Service. The client uses the Stumpage Estimation Service to get the estimated stumpage due if the trees are harvested.

 

6. Why is the stumpage estimate not included in the downloaded report?

The Province updates stumpage rates throughout the year. A stumpage estimate is valid only at the time it is generated. A saved stumpage report will likely be invalid at a later date.

 

7. Why are multiple stumpage rates displayed in the Areas of Interest tabs and only one rate is displayed in the Total tab?

Stumpage rates may differ depending on the Geographic Area in which the Area of Interest is located. To avoid showing multiple rates in one report, the Total tab summarizes the stumpage estimates of all areas of interest selected.

 

8. Why does the stumpage estimate assume that all of the timber in the Area of Interest will be harvested?

Areas that will be only partially or selectively harvested require the services of a Registered Forest Professional to estimate the harvest volume and complete a full appraisal to estimate stumpage.

Find a Registered Forest Professional here.

 

9. I don’t see a stumpage estimate on my report.

Regions calculate stumpage differently.

• If you are in one of the Coast regions: Areas of interest with greater than 2,500 cubic metres of merchantable timber volume will require the services of a Registered Forest Professional to estimate the harvest volume and complete a full appraisal.
• If you are in the Interior (any non-coastal region): Areas of Interest with greater than 5,000 cubic metres of merchantable timber volume will require the services of a Registered Forest Professional to estimate the harvest volume and complete a full appraisal.
• If you are in the Coast Mountains Natural Resource District: Areas of interest that lie in the Great Bear Rainforest North TSA (old North Coast TSA) will use Coast stumpage rates even though the district is deemed to be Interior. The stumpage estimate must use current rates found here.

Find a Registered Forest Professional here.

 

10. Will the  Vegetation Resource Inventory (VRI) tree information match the actual tree information in my area of interest?

The VRI tree information is determined from a sample of both aerial and field information. It will likely not exactly match what you find on the ground but it should provide a reasonable estimate.

 

11. I have data files for my areas of interest. I do not need to draw any shapes. Can I use these?

Yes, you can upload geospatial files in the “Explore” application.

 

12. Why can’t I use the estimates generated by these tools in my application? Why does a Registered Forestry Professional still have to provide estimates?

The tool is to help applicants decide whether to proceed with their application before investing money. The appraisal submission and associated volume estimate for an OLTC application requires the services of a Registered Forest Professional.

Find a Registered Forest Professional here.