Annual operating plans are prepared by Crown Timber Licensees and are submitted to the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development (DNRED) each spring prior to the start of forest operations. Periodic updates to these plans are also provided throughout the operating season so that government and the public are made aware of significant changes to these plans. Licensees submit plans for timber harvesting, silviculture (such as tree planting, thinning, and vegetation management), road construction, and major road maintenance activities. Operating plans are designed to be consistent with the objectives of DNRED’s long-term Forest Management Plan and includes important details with respect to the location and type of planned operational activities.