The Blue Mountain‐Kanaka Creek Conservation Group filed a complaint with the Board about the adequacy of planning and forest practices on Woodlot Licence W0007, in Maple Ridge. The complainant is concerned that woodlot activities will harm domestic water supplies and scenic views in the area.
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.
Operational planning; timber harvesting; road construction, maintenance and deactivation; silviculture; and fire protection undertaken by BCTS in the 100 Mile House Forest District complied with forest practices legislation. The audit identified one area of improvement—better management practices to address pine beetle epidemic, which is the major focus of the logging activity in this area.
The Board received a complaint from a member of the public about maintenance and development activities in a MOFR recreation site. The complainant was concerned about whether the work was authorized, as there was no sign posted to provide explanation about the work being conducted.
The fourth compliance audit on Nisga’a Lands reported that the provincial government needs to act promptly to ensure the forest obligation under the Nisga’a treaty is fulfilled. The other auditees—Skeen Cellulose Inc.; Sim Gan Forest Corporation; West Fraser Mills Ltd.; BC Timber Sales, Skeena Business Area; and the Kalum Forest District Manager— complied with forest practices legislation and the Nisga’a Treaty agreement.
The Okanagan Indian Band’s planning and forest practices on non-replaceable forest licence A73213 complied with legislative requirements. With fire salvage guidance from the government agencies, the band was able to harvest fire-damaged timber burned in the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park fire near Kelowna and the Cedar Hill Fire near Falkland.
