Elphinstone Logging Focus (the complainant), an environmental group based on the Sunshine Coast, asserted that several good candidates for wildlife trees in Timber Sale Licence (TSL) A93884 were cut down, while others retained as wildlife trees were of poorer quality. The complainant believes that this practice will result in diminishing biodiversity.
The complainant would like BCTS to retain all good quality wildlife trees and wants government to amend the Forest and Range Practices Act to require a two to three tree- length buffer around dead standing wildlife trees.
As part of its 2019 compliance audit program, the Board selected three non-replaceable forest licences (NRFLs) in the Chilliwack Natural Resource District as a location for a full scope compliance audit. The licences include A75807, A79504 and A90380, held by Ts'elxweyeqw Forestry Limited Partnership, Leq' A: Mel Forestry Limited Partnership, and Skwah First Nation, respectively.
The activities audited are located in the area around Chilliwack, near Chehalis, Wahleach and Chilliwack Lakes. Operations are located in the Chehalis, Chilliwack and Silverhope Landscape Units, where resource values include scenic areas, wildlife habitat for a variety of species, recreation areas, consumptive watersheds and culturally important areas. The licensees must meet objectives set by government for old growth management areas, scenic areas, wildlife, community watersheds and karst.
The activities for all of the licensees audited complied with the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
The Forest Practices Board received a complaint that asserts that Sunshine Coast Community Forest (SCCF) did not adequately consider the impacts of forestry activities on a landslide into Wilson Creek. The complainant is concerned that SCCF did not conduct a geotechnical assessment of the landslide and that fine sediments from it will continue to be transported into Wilson Creek until the slope eventually stabilizes.
The Board found that the landslide was a natural event that occurred before any forestry activities took place. In addition, the licensee had completed a geotechnical assessment that identified the landslide, and also conducted several other hydrologic related assessments. It followed the recommendations in the assessments which are designed to mitigate the risk of sediment entering Wilson Creek. The Board also observed that the toe of the landslide is beginning to revegetate, which will further reduce the amount of sediment from the landslide deposited into Wilson Creek.
