Complaint Investigation – IRC/237
May 2021

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. FLNRORD should promptly complete, and implement as legal direction under FRPA, a landscape unit plan for the Nahmint that provides clear objectives for mature and old forest and rare ecosystems, and is consistent with the Nahmint’s designation as a high biodiversity emphasis landscape unit.
2. BCTS should amend its 2017 West Coast FSP to be consistent with the Vancouver Island Land Use Plan Higher Level Plan Order.
3. BCTS should assess its operations for site level representation of old forest, and ensure that it is not developing or selling timber sales that contain old seral forest in site series that may be below the interim targets of 19 percent in the CWH, and 28 percent in the MH, until a landscape unit plan is approved.
4. FLNRORD should examine legislation and identify a mechanism to allow FSPs to be reviewed, and potentially corrected, if they are found not to be consistent with government objectives. This review should consider an option for the Board to appeal an FSP approval to the Forest Appeals Commission when a deficiency is discovered.

Response to Recommendations