In the fall of 2009, the Forest Practices Board conducted a special investigation into how well forest companies are meeting their obligations to maintain roads and bridges under the Forest and Range Practices Act. The investigation took place in the Campbell River, South Island and Squamish forest districts in the Coast Forest Region.
The Board looked at how road maintenance obligations were being met by 8 licensees holding road permit tenures associated with 11 forest licences. The licensees were Aat’uu Forestry Limited Partnership and TimberWest Forest Corporation in the Campbell River Forest District; Coulson Forest Products Ltd. and Teal-Jones Group in the South Island Forest District; and C.R.B. Logging Co. Ltd., Northwest Squamish Forestry Ltd., Squamish Mills Ltd. and Halray Logging Ltd. in the Squamish Forest District.
This investigation brings attention to the special value of trees of exceptional size or form, age or historical significance. Such trees, and sometimes the forest stands that contain them, having withstood the ravages of time over many centuries, can inspire awe and reverence, a sense of spirituality and connection to past events. Descriptors such as mammoth, heritage, cathedral-like, ancient, antique and monumental are not uncommon.
In May 2010, the Forest Practices Board received a complaint from a resident of Nanoose Bay about planned logging on District Lot (DL) 33. DL 33 is a 64-hectare parcel of Crown land near Nanoose Bay containing mature forest and some older veteran trees within the Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem. The complainant is concerned about the integrity of the ecosystem and wants DL 33 to be protected from logging. Should logging proceed, the complainant wants to know how wetlands, rare species, plant communities, fish streams, and groundwater values on DL 33 will be protected.
In June 2009, the Board conducted a full-scope compliance audit of forest planning and practices of the British Columbia Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber sale holders, in the central coast portion of the Seaward-tlasta Business Area.
The audit assessed operational planning, silviculture obligations, fire protection activities, harvesting on 27 cutblocks and over 500 kilometres of road activities.
The Board’s audit fieldwork took place from June 22 to 25, 2009.
In February 2010, the Forest Practices Board received a complaint from a resident of Nanoose Bay about forest practices in the Coastal Douglas-fir ecosystem (CDF). The complainant is concerned about these issues:
