Crown Forest Access in BC and Alberta
Access Forestry handles the forestry side of Crown land projects in BC and Alberta, from site and route planning through timber appraisals, clearing oversight and reclamation to certificate. In BC, operators cutting Crown timber must report and pay for it, whether or not they use it.
What’s included
- PlanTop three sites and routes, ranked, with why, on BC and Alberta data.
- ApplyBC timber appraisals on Crown land only, checked against ParcelMap BC, and Alberta disposition forestry.
- ClearThe crew app tracks where crews clear and flags any clearing outside the approved area; on BC projects, every timber decision is tracked.
- ReclaimRestoration plans, treatment units and visits, to certificate.
Questions
What does cutting Crown timber need in BC?
A cutting authority: for energy projects, a cutting permit from the BC Energy Regulator under a Master Licence to Cut. Elsewhere on Crown land, the holder of a right to occupy the land, such as a lease, applies for an Occupant Licence to Cut through a natural resource district office or FrontCounter BC.
Is private land treated the same as Crown land?
No: in BC, Crown timber is timber on Crown land or timber reserved to the government, and private land is land that is not Crown land. The BC Energy Regulator doesn't issue cutting permits for timber reserves on private land. We check ownership against ParcelMap BC before every BC appraisal.
What forestry charge applies to an Alberta disposition?
A Timber Damage Assessment, where certain approved public land dispositions take land out of forest use. Inside a Forest Management Agreement area, the FMA holder bills separately for the compensation its agreement entitles it to.
What is due after clearing and construction?
In BC, a post-construction plan within 60 days of completing construction, for energy resource activities that cleared or disturbed new land, except geophysical activities. In Alberta, debris from clearing for pipelines, wells, roads, utility lines and survey lines must be disposed of before construction starts and within 12 months of clearing, unless a forest officer extends or reduces that time.
What does reclaimed to certificate mean?
In Alberta, that the regulator has issued a reclamation certificate, which certifies that the land has been restored and its reclamation requirements met. In BC, the BC Energy Regulator's Certificate of Restoration certifies, on what it knows at the time, that it is satisfied the restoration obligations have been met.