This investigation began with a complaint, from the Carmanah Forestry Society, about the approval of an amendment to the BC Timber Sales Program’s 2000-2004 forest development plan, located on the east coast of Vancouver Island in the South Island Forest District. The complainant asserted that the district manager did not adequately consider information about “red-listed” (endangered or threatened) plant species and their occurrences in younger forests located in the proposed logging area. The complainant was concerned that continued timber harvesting will eliminate all such plants in the area.

Landslides are a common natural process in a mountainous province like British Columbia. Common features of the landscape are steep slopes, gullies, incised streams and shallow soils, which are conducive to landslides. Most of BC’s mountainous areas also experience high seasonal precipitation and periods of intense rainfall. Landslides are, consequently, a common natural process. Natural landslides are an important forest disturbance agent, particularly in coastal areas. Landslides in forests create gaps and tree diversity as well as contributing significant amounts of gravel and large woody debris to streams, which are important attributes of fish habitat.

The objectives of this study are to report on:

• the incidence and trends of forestry-related landslides in selected areas and the extent of damage to the environment;
• the adequacy of the terrain mapping and assessments; and
• the lessons learned in applying this information to the FRPA environment.

The Board received a complaint from Shawnigan Lake Watershed Watch about proposed development within the community watershed. The complainant felt that a planned cutblock by BCTS would not provide for sustainable forest management in the watershed. It also believed consultation regarding the site plan was inadequate.

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.