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The Board conducted a full-scope compliance audit of Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (Canfor) Forest Licence A19040 in the Rocky Mountain Natural Resource District. All forestry activities carried out between September 1, 2023, and September 27, 2024, were subject to audit.
Canfor complied with most requirements under the Forest and Range Practices Act and Wildfire Act, with the following exceptions:
Since the audit, Canfor fulfilled its outstanding abatement obligations. It has also committed to addressing the issues by completing overdue fire hazard assessments, updating its fire hazard assessment procedures and communicating these updates to its operations provincewide.
Canfor diligently managed over 4600 kilometres of forest roads and more than 100 structures. In this regard, Canfor successfully met all of its legal and professional practice requirements, which is commendable given the size and complexity of its operations.
Auditors also found a notable practice in this audit—Canfor’s use of a predictive pine rust tool. This tool uses silviculture survey data to model future impacts of forest diseases known as rusts. This forecasting method can help inform regeneration decisions around species selection, planting densities and silvicultural systems. This, in turn, can promote healthier, more climate-resilient reforestation strategies.
Licensees that create fire hazards near communities and recreation areas must be diligent in abating them. One of the unabated cutblocks in this audit was located near the community of Kimberley, where there are significant values at risk, and public recreation and human activity increase the risk of a human-caused fire. The Board has previously reported on the significant risk this poses.
This audit took place within the territories of the Adams Lake Indian Band, Neskonlith Indian Band, Shuswap Band, Yaqan nuʔkiy, Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi ‘it First Nation, ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation, ʔaq̓am and Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw. The Board recognizes First Nations’ deep connection with the land that continues to this day.
Figure 1. Map of the audit area
