In 2005, when government established the original Revelstoke Higher Level Plan Order (RHLPO), it included a provision that it might review the order, should subsequent recovery efforts for caribou adversely affect timber supply. Hence, a 2011 amendment was intended to recover a volume of harvestable timber to compensate for that set aside in 2009 to protect caribou habitat. This investigation determined that the amendment, without altering the area reserved for caribou, reduced and re-arranged the amounts, location and security of old and mature forest required to be protected for biodiversity conservation. Ultimately, though less old and mature forest is now protected, the reduced amount is not substantive relative to the original RHLPO, provided forests that are currently considered inoperable remain unharvested.
This audit examined the activities of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and the timber sale licence (TSL) holders in the Rocky Mountain District. Numerous natural resources support a wide range of interests in the district—including recreation, wildlife, trapping, guide-outfitting, fish and tourism—creating challenges for BCTS and timber sale licensees that carry out forestry activities in the area.
As part of the Forest Practices Boardʹs 2010 compliance audit program, the Board randomly selected the Rocky Mountain Forest District as the location for a full‐scope compliance audit. Within the district, the Board selected FL A19040, held by Tembec Industries Inc., for audit.
The primary operating areas are scattered throughout the Cranbrook Timber Supply Area, around the cities of Cranbrook, Kimberley and Fernie, and the communities of Sparwood and Elkford.
The Board's audit fieldwork took place from July 5 to 9, 2010.
In British Columbia, use of Crown range is regulated by the Range Act and the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA). The Range Act provides the authority to grant range agreements, including permits and licences. These agreements include things like the tenure area and the amount of forage that can be consumed by livestock on Crown land. Similar to the former Forest Practices Code, FRPA provides the necessary authority for government to manage the Crown land resource. This includes authority to require the agreement holder to prepare a range plan and follow practice requirements.
The investigation found that the current framework for range planning under FRPA is not working well for agreement holders, MFR range staff or for management of the range resource. First, there is widespread uncertainty about what the objectives for range mean and what is required to achieve them. Second, agreement holders are expected to write measurable and enforceable plans, yet may not have the necessary qualifications and experience to do so. Finally, the preparation and approval of RUPs is a time consuming and challenging task for agreement holders and the MFR, and it is not clear if range planning is achieving any measurable benefit in managing the range resource.
The owner of a private campground on Lake Koocanusa submitted a complaint to the Forest Practices Board on August 22, 2008. The complainant had concerns with a campfire ban, imposed on July 28, 2008, covering parts of the Rocky Mountain Forest District and the Lake Koocanusa area, which is southeast of Cranbrook, BC.
