Government of Yukon makes progress on identifying new areas for firewood

Press Release

February 11, 2026

The new Government of Yukon is taking steps to ensure that the forest resources sector and log home builders have sufficient, reliable access to timber. Four new timber harvest projects are now available to commercial harvesters and another four are undergoing environmental and socio-economic assessment.

The Government of Yukon continues to work with First Nations, industry and the Yukon Wood Products Association to develop new timber harvesting projects and support existing operations throughout the territory.

On January 30, the Government of Yukon submitted the draft Cabin Creek Timber Harvest Plan to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB). Cabin Creek is an important project that will provide an estimated five-year supply of fuel wood, sawlogs and building logs in the Watson Lake area for operators.

We’re making it a top priority to ensure Yukoners and businesses have a dependable supply of fuel wood, sawlogs and building logs for heat and home building. Timber harvest projects help commercial woodcutters secure quality wood blocks and get wood to market. The Government of Yukon is committed to increasing timber harvesting opportunities now and into the future.

Minister of Energy Mines and Resources Ted Laking

Quick facts

• The four new timber harvest projects are: Bear Creek II (Haines Junction); Partridge Creek (Mayo); Silver City Community Fuel Abatement (Haines Junction); and Dempster (Dawson).
• There are approximately 64,000 cubic metres of wood available in these four plans.
• The four timber harvest plans currently under assessment in YESAB are: Cabin Creek (Watson Lake); Mackintosh East (Haines Junction); Crooked Creek (Mayo); and Copper Haul Road Fuel Abatement (Whitehorse).
• The recently submitted draft Cabin Creek Timber Harvest Plan will provide an estimated 19,000 cubic metres of wood for harvesters until the larger Poison Lake burn can be assessed.
• Timber harvest plans help ensure the sustainable use of forests. In the Yukon these plans cover landscape units ranging from 5,000 hectares to around 300,000 hectares.
• The Yukon has more than 70 businesses employing people across the territory who harvest and sell wood to Yukoners and Yukon businesses.

Media contact

Tim Kucharuk
Press Secretary, Cabinet Communications
867-335-2419
tim.kucharuk@yukon.ca

Patti Flather
Communications, Energy Mines and Resources
867-667-3123
patti.flather@yukon.ca

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