The province developed its first 20-Year Forest Development Plan in 1984, initiating a planning cycle where plans are generated every five years. In 1989, the first formalized Timber Resource Analysis was undertaken, and this analysis is now a legislative requirement every five years. This allows for the tracking of changes in the forest land base, the implementation of new management strategies and the opportunity to address differences detected in forest growth rates compared to previous forecasts.
The volume of timber that can be harvested each year on a sustainable level, is determined by the Timber Resource Analysis and is referred to as the Annual Allowable Cut (AAC). The AAC defines the maximum annual rate at which timber can be harvested in the province on a sustainable level into the future.
The position of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is that timber harvesting be conducted in a sustainable manner that does not exceed the established AACs. The Forestry Act requires the province to establish an AAC for each Forest Management District.
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