In June 2009, the Board conducted a compliance audit of forest planning and practices of the British Columbia Timber Sales’ (BCTS) program and timber sale licence (TSL) holders, in the Skeena Business Area’s Hazelton operations, located within the Skeena Stikine Forest District.
The audit assessed more than 80 cutblocks and over 700 kilometres of road activities and obligations, as well as operational planning by BCTS.
As part of the Forest Practices Board's 2009 compliance audit program, the Board selected five woodlot licences in the Quesnel Forest District (the licences) for audit. This is the audit report for Woodlot Licences W1412 and W1592.
The audit examined each woodlot licensee’s planning, field activities and obligations in the areas of:
All activities, planning and obligations for the period January 1, 2007, to the day of the field audit in June 2009, were included in the scope of the audit.
As part of its 2008 compliance audit program, the Forest Practices Board selected the Okanagan Shuswap Forest District as the location for a full scope compliance audit with a focus on water resources in community watersheds.
The Okanagan Shuswap Forest District covers a large geographical area (approximately 2.25 million hectares) and stretches from the US border in the south to Seymour River/Shuswap Lake in the north.
In September 2008, the Forest Practices Board conducted a limited scope compliance audit of the British Columbia Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber sale licence holders in the Powell River Business Unit of the Strait of Georgia Business Area, located in the Sunshine Coast Forest District.
The audit assessed more than 30 cutblocks, over 300 kilometres of road activities and obligations, 89 bridges and associated operational planning of the BCTS program and its timber sale licence holders.
In spring 2008, the Forest Practices Board conducted a limited scope compliance audit of Western Forest Products Inc. (WFP) Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 39/Block 6 in the Haida Gwaii Forest District (formerly Queen Charlotte Islands), with a focus on fish streams and crossings.
The audit assessed more than 140 cutblocks, 1,800 kilometres of road activities and obligations, and 450 bridges, as well as associated operational planning. The audit found that harvesting, road activities and associated planning undertaken by WFP between May 1, 2006, and May 30, 2008, complied with legislative requirements in all significant respects.
Haida Gwaii contains a large number of high-value fish streams and the Board commends WFP on the various measures it has taken to protect fish and fish habitat on TFL 39/Block 6. By minimizing the potential input of sediment into fish streams, ensuring fish passage at stream crossings and maintaining large riparian management areas, WFP is actively engaging in minimizing impacts to fish and fish habitat while conducting its forestry operations.
The audit examined both BCTS’ and TSL holders’ obligations and activities. BCTS is responsible for operational planning, including preparing forest stewardship plans (FSP) and site plans, silviculture, and most road construction, maintenance and deactivation outside of cutblocks. Timber sale licensees are responsible for timber harvesting, fire protection, and most road construction, maintenance and deactivation within cutblocks.
These activities were assessed for compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act, the Wildfire Act and related regulations, as well as certain transitional elements of the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act. All activities, planning and obligations for the period July 1, 2007, to July 31, 2008, were included in the scope of the audit.
