Operational planning is the most site specific level of planning in BC. It is operational plans which provide detailed information regarding proposed road development, timber harvesting and other operational activities involved with the accessing, harvesting, renewing and protecting of forest and range resources. Licensees are required to prepare forest development plans, silviculture prescriptions, range use plans and, under limited circumstances, logging plans. Licensees may also prepare stand management prescriptions at their discretion. Operational plans for a specific area are legally required to comply with the objectives set out in higher level plans for that area. If no higher level plan has been designated, operational plans are expected, but not required, to adhere to the direction and goals set out in strategic land use plans.

The nature, location, timing and extent of operational activities in an area are constrained by the land use designation that has been applied to that area. For example, virtually all operational activities are prohibited in ecological reserves; however, designation as an old growth management area does not preclude all commercial timber harvesting, it merely limits the methods of harvesting. Through the application of a certain designation, forest resources may be allocated and their uses assigned priorities. Proposed operational activities which are not compatible with the permissible uses of a certain designation may be limited or prohibited while others which are more in accord with permissive uses may be less restricted. To this end it is crucial that those of you involved in land use planning be familiar with the full range of land use designations available, and understand the intent and function of each. Part 4 of the Guide provides a comprehensive list of the land use designations that are applicable to Crown forest land, and describes the intent of each one.

11/19/03