Originally published in 2008, this report was revised and re-published in January 2009. Revisions were made to correct data errors and to clarify the Board’s views on the findings of the investigation. The conclusions and recommendations in the original report did not change.
This investigation examines the sustainability of timber supply in areas with high retention harvesting on the Queen Charlotte Islands and the central and northern B.C. coast, by assessing post-harvest stand structure and condition in recent cutblocks. The investigation found high-grading of cedar and some spruce trees—selectively removing the valuable cedar and spruce trees, leaving behind mainly old rotting hemlock trees spread across the cutblock. The investigation also found that important social and environmental values such as viewscapes and biodiversity, often cited as the reason for using this method, were protected.
Interfor, TFL Forest Ltd. (Timberwest), Weyerhaeuser Ltd. and Canfor, along with BCTS, in the Campbell River Forest District showed good performance in limiting the visual impact of logging activities. MOFR should complete its visual planning framework for roadside landscapes, and the Campbell River Forest District should complete and implement a comprehensive visual resource management strategy along the Highway 19 corridor in the district.
This is the Board’s report on a compliance audit of Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 25, held by Western Forest Products Ltd. (WFP). The operating area for TFL 25 consists of five distinct geographic areas within the Coast Forest Region.
This is a report on a compliance audit of Tree Farm Licence 19 held by Doman-Western Lumber Ltd. The audit examined timber harvesting and road practices, and related operational plans for the period August 1, 1997, to August 28, 1998, to assess compliance with the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act and related regulations (the Code).
In mid‐November, 1995, a member of the public observed a backhoe operator employed by a forest company carrying out pre‐winter road maintenance on a hauling road southwest of Campbell River, Vancouver Island. Waterbars and cross‐ditches were being constructed at a time when previous heavy precipitation had saturated the soils.
The complainant was concerned that, as a result of this work, silt was entering the Oyster River, causing damage to salmon eggs in the river gravel at that time of year. The complainant contacted a number of government agencies to express concern and subsequently filed a complaint with the Board on December 7, 1995.
