Annual allowable cut falls in the Southern Interior

May 5, 2016 | 11:51 AM

KAMLOOPS — Kamloops-area forestry companies will have fewer trees to harvest this year, thanks to a drastic reduction in the allowable cut announced by the province.

Effective immediately, the cut in the local area will be dropped from 4 million cubic metres annually to 2.3 million.

The cut will be decreased again in 2021, to 2.1 million cubic metres.

Chief Forester Diane Nicholls says the salvage of pine trees killed by the mountain pine beetle is coming to an end, and regenerating stands need to be given time to grow.