Government of New Brunswick

Crown Timber Allocations

The amount of Crown timber available for use at wood processing facilities across the province is determined by the Crown forest management plan. 

A wood processing facility has access to Crown timber through entering into a formal (Forest Management) agreement with the Minister of the Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development as specified in the Crown Lands and Forests Act. These allocated mills are referred to as Licensees and Sub-licensees.

Requirements to be a licensee or sub-licensee are according to sections 28, 29 and 41 of the Crown Lands and Forests Act and include:

  • Owning, operating or agreeing to construct a wood processing facility in the Province.
  • Submission and approval of an industrial plan by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council.

Location of currently operating licensee and/or sub-licensee wood processing facilities

An industrial plan describes a mill’s planned production, investment, employment and wood requirements from all sources (Crown, private woodlots, industrial freehold and imports) for a 10-year period.

The amount and type of Crown timber available to approved NB mills is specified in Schedule F of the Forest Management Agreement.

Fifteen New Brunswick First Nation communities also have commercial harvesting agreements with the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development. Approximately 5% of the total Crown forest annual allowable harvest has been allocated under these agreements. Each First Nation community generates economic benefits from their Crown wood allocation through the harvesting and selling of the wood to local mills. First Nation communities may harvest the wood through their community members or contracting forestry companies. Through these agreements, the province shares royalties generated from the sale of the harvested Crown timber to each community which is used to support important community programs.