A resident of Lakelse Lake, near Terrace, wrote to the Board with concerns about forest practices in a cutblock near Furlong Creek. After discussions and a meeting with the participants, the complaint issues were resolved.
The Nisga’a final agreement requires government to bring the forest lands on Nisga’a territory up to agreed-upon standards. The agreement also requires the Forest Practices Board to audit forest planning and practices on Nisga’a lands for the five-year period ending in May 2005.
The fifth audit began in 2005 and was completed in early 2007. The audit examined the planning and practices of West Fraser Mills Limited, Sim Gan Forest Corporation, New Skeena Forest Products, BC Timber Sales and the obligations of the Kalum district manager.
Triumph Timber Ltd.’s activities near Prince Rupert complied with legislative requirements, including operations in isolated operating areas accessible only by aircraft or boat. The licensees employed good environmental practices to minimize the impact of logging on marine mammals and initiated an adaptive approach to applying eco-system based management in the audit area.
The special investigation compared reforestation efforts in the Quesnel, Nadina and Vanderhoof forest districts with the other forest districts in the Interior of B.C. The reforestation of areas most heavily affected by B.C.’s mountain pine beetle infestation is as prompt, or quicker, than in areas not affected, or affected to a lesser degree. An increase in mixed species planting, as opposed to pure pine plantations were reported along with good reforestation efforts in the three mountain pine beetle districts in these areas.
The Burns Lake Indian Band complied with forest practices legislation on non-replaceable forest licence A72919, while harvesting beetle infested stands located southeast of Burns Lake, in the Nadina Forest District. The band is focused on public awareness and is actively involved to promote Band’s harvest planning and practices among other forest users in this area.
