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The provincial Liberal government has been presented with eight different options for how it should approach the management of forests on Crown lands. The options outlined in the Management Alternatives for New Brunswick's Public Forests include:

The Status Quo

No changes to current government policy. Four per cent of Crown forest area is allocated to a network of protected areas where no timber harvesting occurs. Thirty per cent of the forest area will be managed by the province primarily for the conservation of wildlife. Provincial wood supply stays the same at least for the first 10 years.

Net value of forestry shipments averages roughly $1.44 billion a year.

Crown royalties stay at around $61 million.

Option A: Conservation

Increases protected area from four per cent to 22 per cent and increases conservation forest from 30 per cent to 37 per cent. No tree plantations. Provincial wood supply decreases.

Net value of forestry shipments averages roughly $720 million a year.

Crown royalties drop to about $31 million.

Option B: Diversify the forest

Increases protected area from four to 10 per cent. Conservation forest stays at 30 per cent. Fewer tree plantations than the status quo.

Provincial wood supply decreases.

Net value of forestry shipments averages roughly $720 million a year.

Crown royalties drop to about $30 million.

Option C: Increased emphasis on diversifying forest

Increases protected area from four to 13 per cent but reduces conservation area from 30 per cent 25 per cent to offset wood supply losses. Plantation areas to increase to 19 per cent over the next 50 years.

Net value of forestry shipments averages roughly $1.07 billion a year.

Crown royalties drop to about $48 million.

Option D: Increased use of plantations

Increases protected area from four per cent to 13 per cent while reducing conservation area from 30 per cent to 25 per cent. Plantation area allowed to increase to 37 per cent over the next 50 years.

Increases future wood supply.

Net value of forestry shipments averages roughly $1.14 billion a year.

Crown royalties drop to about $54 million.

Option E: Significantly boost wood supply

This option reflects the recommendations of the report by the New Brunswick Task Force on Self-Sufficiency. It will increase current and future wood supplies through reducing the conservation forest area and increased use of plantations. Protected areas increase from four per cent to 10 per cent, all of which is drawn from conservation forest, which is reduced from 30 per cent to 20 per cent.

Net value of forestry shipments averages roughly $1.30 billion a year.

Crown royalties steady at around $60 million.

Option F: Balance between diversity and increased wood supply objectives

Plantation areas to increase to 25 per cent over next 50 years. Uses as little clear cutting as possible.

Net value of forestry shipments averages roughly $1.19 billion a year.

Crown royalties drop to about $55 million.

Option G: Status quo with more plantations

Protected area increases from four per cent to 16 per cent while conservation forest remains at 30 per cent. Twenty-five per cent of forest allocated to intensive plantations.

Net value of forestry shipments averages roughly $1.11 billion a year.

Crown royalties drop to about $51 million.