Forestry Audit: BCTS and Timber Sale Licence Holders – Stuart-Nechako Business Area, Fort St. James District
This audit examined the activities of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber sale licence (TSL) holders in the Fort St. James District.
The communities in this district depend heavily on the forest industry but also rely on resourcessuch as water, fish, and wildlife to provide economic diversity and to meet cultural and tourism needs. At a time when mountain pine beetle infestations and subsequent timber salvage are high, BCTS and TSL holders face many challenges when balancing resource interests with salvage operations.
Audit of Forest Planning and Practices: Canadian Forest Products Ltd. – TFL 48
In August 2012, the Forest Practices Board (Board) conducted a full scope audit of forest planning and practices on Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (Canfor) Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 48 near Chetwynd in the Peace District.
This is the second time the Board has audited this TFL. The Board is pleased to see that Canfor is doing a good job meeting its forestry obligations and has met its legislative requirements. However, the Board is concerned about the tremendous increase in other resource extraction activities now taking place on this TFL.
This mix of developments is outside of Canfor’s control and is an issue for government to deal with, as discussed in our bulletin on cumulative effects management,1 but it is important for Canfor to be made aware of all of these other activities so it can continue to manage the TFL appropriately.AC
International Forest Products Ltd. – FLs A16850 and A82001 in the North Island-Central Coast District
Audit of Forest Planning and Practices: International Forest Products Limited – FLs A16850 and A82001
In June 2012, the Board conducted a full scope audit of forest planning and practices on International Forest Products Ltd. (Interfor) Forest Licences A16850 and A82001 in the North Island-Central Coast District.
This area, often referred to as the Great Bear Rainforest is rugged, remote, and characterized by a wet, windy climate, making forest operations challenging. The area has received international attention due to concerns about resource use in one of the largest temperate rainforests in the world. This attention has led to the collaboration of land users, First Nations and government agencies in the creation of land use orders designed in part to implement ecosystem-based management (EBM), integrating social, economic and ecological needs in the area. This is the first Board audit in the Mid-Coast Timber Supply Area where EBM has been incorporated into planning and practices.
Audit of Timber Harvesting, Road Construction, Deactivation and Maintenance, and Wildfire Protection: 606546 B.C. Ltd – FL A19202
This audit examined the activities of 606546 B.C. Ltd. on forest licence A19202 in the Chilliwack Forest District. 606546 B.C. Ltd. purchased this forest licence in 2008, and it also holds other forest licences in the district. Dorman Timber Ltd. owns 606546 B.C. Ltd.
The audit results show that harvesting and wildfire protection activities were satisfactory, but the overall performance of 606546 B.C. Ltd. was not up to the standard required by legislation and expected by the public. The Board found three cases of significant non-compliance:
- Two bridges were installed without the required plans or drawings.
- Road construction equipment was moved across a bridge requiring repairs, despite the district manager’s direction not to use the bridge.
- Three sections of new road were not structurally sound or safe for use and were failing at the time of the audit.
Also See: Road and Bridge Practices – Board Audit Findings 2005 – 2011
(special report released concurrently)
606546 B.C. Ltd – FL A19202 in the Chilliwack District
Stella-Jones Canada Incorp. – FL A20196 in the Selkirk District
Audit of Forest Planning and Practices: Stella-Jones Canada Incorp. – FL A20196
As part of its 2012 compliance audit program, the Forest Practices Board selected Stella-Jones Canada Incorporated’s (Stella-Jones) forest licence (FL) A20196 for audit. Operations are managed from Stella-Jones’ office in Salmon Arm.
FL A20196, with an annual allowable cut of 12 963 cubic metres, lies within the Arrow timber supply area (TSA), and nearby communities include Nakusp and Burton. It consists of four operating areas, located along the eastern side of Upper Arrow Lake. The southernmost operating area lies within the Caribou Community Watershed.
Audit of Forest Planning and Practices: Valemount Community Forest Company Ltd. – Community Forest Agreement K2T
The Forest Practices Board selected community forest agreement K2T, held by the Valemount Community Forest Company Ltd. (VCFC) for audit. Community forest agreement K2T surrounds the Village of Valemount, which lies in the Robson Valley, about 300 kilometres southeast of Prince George.
The VCFC harvested approximately 250 000 cubic metres of timber during the two-year audit period. Harvesting was focused on salvaging lodgepole pine trees affected by the mountain pine beetle. Field work was carried out from September 24 to 27, 2012.
