A penalty levied by a government official, such as a District Manager, against a person who has contravened forest practices legislation.
A BC government review of certain types of legal determinations. It can lead to confirmation, cancellation or variation of the determination, or to a new determination.
An opinion arrived at when non-compliance is significant, sufficiently pervasive or is of such magnitude as to warrant an overall negative conclusion.
A person, company or party that the Forest Practices Board believes could be significantly and directly adversely affected by an analyst's review, or by a proposed Board report. A significant effect could, for example, be economic or related to employment or reputation.
The holder of an agreement under British Columbia's Forest Act or Range Act.
Plant species that have established outside their natural distribution.
The allowable rate of timber harvest from a specified area of land. The Chief Forester sets AACs for timber supply areas (TSAs) and tree farm licences (TFLs) in accordance with Section 8 of the Forest Act.
The unit by which forage or grazing capacity is measured. The amount of dry forage required by one animal unit for one month is 450 kilograms of forage per month per cow aged 6 months or older.
Under the Forest and Range Practices Act, administrative penalties and certain plan approvals/rejections can be appealed to the Forest Appeals Commission. Commission decisions can, in certain circumstances, be appealed to British Columbia Supreme Court.
Areas requiring improvement are identified practices that are in non-compliance with legislation but are not considered significant. In certain cases, the Board may wish to highlight the practice as requiring improvement, but is not likely to make a recommendation.
These items could include:
Forest Practices Board audits determine compliance with the provincial forestry legislation based on audit criteria derived from the Forest and Range Practices Act and related regulations. Audits by the Forest Practices Board are conducted in accordance with the auditing standards developed by the Board, which are consistent with generally accepted auditing standards.
All land surface not covered by vegetation, rock, or litter.
Same as bare ground.
Consists of: maintenance of the productivity of forest sites; restocking of denuded forest lands with commercial tree species within three years for areas west of the Coast Range and five years for areas in the Interior; and protection against damage by fire, insects and diseases to predetermined standards.
Harvesting methods and silviculture operations, including: seed collection, site preparation, artificial and natural regeneration, brushing, spacing and stand tending, and other operations for the purpose of establishing a free-growing crop of trees of a commercially valuable species. Basic silviculture may be a requirement of a regulation, a pre-harvest silviculture prescription or a silviculture prescription.
An independent organization within the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, created to develop Crown timber for auction. BCTS was founded in 2003 with a mandate to provide the cost and price benchmarks for timber harvested from public land in British Columbia. Through 12 Business Areas and an operational presence in 33 locations, BCTS manages some 20 percent of the provincial Crown allowable annual cut.
Bedload is a term used to describe particles in a stream that are being carried or transported along the streambed.
The diversity of plants, animals, and other living organisms in all their forms and levels of organization, including genes, species, ecosystems, and the evolutionary and functional processes that link them.
A hierarchical classification system of ecosystems that integrates regional, local and chronological factors and combines climatic, vegetation and site factors.
Part of the biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification system. Recognized biogeoclimactic units are a synthesis of climate, vegetation and soil data and are defined as “classes of geographically related ecosystems that are distributed within a vegetationally inferred climatic space.”
A geographic area having similar patterns of energy flow, vegetation and soils, as a result of a broadly homogenous macroclimate.
The use of living organisms, such as predators, parasitoids and pathogens, to control invasive plants.
Uprooting by the wind. Also refers to a tree or trees so uprooted.
Species of special concern (formerly called “vulnerable”) in British Columbia. These species are not immediately threatened, but are of concern because of characteristics that make them particularly sensitive to human activities or natural events.
A class of wetland characterized by a thick layer of sphagnum-based peat. It receives its water primarily from direct precipitation. Bog waters tend to be acidic and nutrient-poor.
A controlled burn, where the fire is intentionally ignited and allowed to proceed over a cutblock within well‐defined boundaries, for the purpose of reducing fuel hazard after logging, or for site preparation before planting.
That part of leaf and twig growth of shrubs, woody vines, and trees available for animal consumption, or, the act of consuming browse (browsing).
Is a measurement of the amount of the current year’s annual growth that has been consumed by livestock. By regulation, the Forest and Range Practices Act sets the maximum browse utilization by livestock at 25%, with the intent of providing sufficient browse for wildlife and also to ensure plant vigour during critical periods. The district manager may choose to set browse utilization standards that are lower than prescribed by regulation.
The act of applying long range strategic directions of an organization toward the development of shorter-term (generally annual), work plans, budgets and associated resource allocation.
A yarding method (the hauling/collecting of felled timber for storage) using cables, winches and grapples.
A yarding system employing winches, blocks and cables.
The percentage of ground covered by a vertical projection of the outermost perimeter of the natural spread of foliage of plants. Small openings within the canopy are included, and coverage may exceed 100 percent.
The stream banks and stream bed formed by fluvial processes.
The bottom of the stream below the usual water surface. Beds contain sediments deposited by moving water, such as rocks, sand, gravel and sediment.
The application of herbicides to control or eradicate plant species.
A Forest Practices Board conclusion arrived at when all forestry activities subject to audit are in compliance with legislation in all significant respects. The statement "in all significant respects" recognizes that there may be minor, or insignificant, instances of non-compliance.
An area of forestland from which all merchantable trees have recently been harvested. 
The process of removing all trees in a stand, large and small, in one cutting operation.
The average weather conditions of a place over many years.
An alteration within the climate system that departs significantly from previous average conditions and is seen to endure, bringing about corresponding changes in ecosystems and socio-economic activity.
The drainage area above the most downstream point of diversion on a stream for which the water is for human consumption, and which is licensed under the Water Act for (i) a waterworks purpose, or (ii) a domestic purpose if the licence is held by, or is subject to, the control of a water users’ community as incorporated under the Water Act.
A matter brought to the Forest Practices Board’s attention by virtue of formal written complaint. It includes information specified in the "Notice of Complaint."
During the course of a Forest Practices Board audit, where the auditor finds that practices meet the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act requirements. (See “clean opinion”)
A matter brought to the Board's attention, but not filed as a formal complaint.
An action, decision, omission, etc., by a government official carried out while exercising a decision-making power or responsibility under forest practices legislation.
All written and oral dealings with the Forest Practices Board by the public, related to a forest matter or the Board’s complaint process.
A violation of a provision of the Forest and Range Practices Act or other legislation.
A ditch excavated across the road at an angle and at a sufficient depth, with armouring as appropriate, to divert both road surface water and ditch water off or across the road.
The CFLB is the area of productive forested Crown land in a defined area. It does not include private land, non-forested areas like alpine, lakes, roads, or non-productive forest like brush. A proportion of old-growth targets can be located within the forested portion of parks, ecological reserves and other areas managed by the Crown. Within the CFLB, the area or amount of old-growth can be identified or located in constrained or inaccessible areas3 within the unit area to which the order applies, up to the target stated for each biogeoclimatic variant.
Land that is owned by the government of Canada or the province of British Columbia.
Crown land included within the boundaries of a range district, but does not include Crown land that is subject to a lease issued under the Land Act.
An invasive plant management practice that manipulates plant populations by cultivation, pulling, cutting, or other hand‐applied techniques.
Culturally modified trees are trees which have been altered, felled, marked, tested or partially harvested in the course of the traditional practices of First Nations peoples. Examples include trees with bark removed, stumps and felled logs, trees tested for soundness, trees chopped for pitch, trees with scars from plank removal, and trees delimbed for wood. Some kinds are common; others infrequent.
A culvert is one or more pipes, pipe arches, or structures below the road surface, used to let water flow from one side of the road to the other
A specific area of land with defined boundaries, authorized for harvest.
The face of an excavated bank required to lower the natural ground line to the desired road profile.
Measures taken to stabilize roads and logging trails during periods of inactivity, which include control of drainage, removal of sidecast where necessary, and re-establishment of vegetation in preparation for permanent deactivation.
A plant community that produces the kind, proportion and amount of vegetation necessary for meeting or exceeding the land use plan or activity objectives established for an ecological site.
An act, omission, decision, procedure, levy, order, or other action made or taken by an official under authority of the Forest and Range Practices Act or other legislation.
The scattering of plant seeds or movement of an animal to a new habitat.
The manager for a forest district established under the Forest Act, Range Act, and Ministry of Forests and Range Act.
A domestic water intake is the point at which water is diverted from a stream for domestic purposes (e.g. human consumption, food preparation or sanitation and household purposes).
Dugouts are earthen excavations designed to store water for use during drier times. Typically, reservoir capacity ranges from a thousand to tens of thousands of cubic metres. Reservoirs are water sources of necessity, because of the uncertainty of filling caused by annual variations in precipitation, and/or the problem of maintaining water quality. Dugouts vary on how they are supplied or capture water. Some of them will require a water license from the Province to divert and store water from a stream.
Organisms together with their physical environment, forming an interacting system, inhabiting an identifiable space.
End haul construction refers to a type of road construction where materials removed in the road construction process are collected and transported to a dumping site instead of being side cast.
Any indigenous species, or sub‐species, threatened with imminent extinction throughout all, or most of its range.
The sum of all external conditions that affect an organism or community and influence its development or existence.
An area of land where water drains away for brief, transient periods following an influx of moisture such as from localized snowmelt or heavy precipitation.
The equivalent clearcut area is the area that has been clearcut, with a reduction factor to account for the hydrological recovery due to forest regeneration and subsequent growth.
Elimination of every individual plant of an invasive plant population, including all viable seeds, and vegetative propagules.
A forest stand or forest type in which relatively small (10-20 years) age differences exist between individual trees. Even-aged stands are often the result of fire or a harvesting method, such as clearcutting or the shelterwood method.
An area fenced to exclude animals.
A deduction of fact made by the Forest Practices Board based on information obtained during an investigation. If no inference is required (because, for example, no one disputes a matter), the matter is a simple fact, not a finding.
A hazard based on physical fuel characteristics, such as fuel arrangement, fuel load, condition of herbaceous vegetation, and presence of elevated fuels.
Incorporates 1) the probability or chance of fire starting and 2) the projected intensity or rate of spread once a fire ignites.
Lakes, streams, and ponds that have resident fish populations.
Lowlands adjoining streams; frequently flooded during spring freshets or extreme rainfall events.
Pertaining to, or produced by, the action of a stream or river.
Browse and herbage that is available and may provide food for grazing animals.
The proportion of current year’s forage or browse production that is consumed by grazing animals.
A complex community of plants and animals in which trees are the most conspicuous members.
The Forest and Range Practices Act and its regulations govern the activities of forest and range licensees in BC. Replaced the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act.
An independent tribunal originally established under the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act (Code) and continued under the Forest and Range Practices Act. The Commission hears appeals from certain decisions made by government officials related to forests and the environment.
Forest fuels are biomass material found naturally in all forest environments which are flammable and can contribute to the intensity or progress of a fire. Flammability of forest varies greatly from material to material and is also influenced by environmental factors such as moisture content, compactness or shape.
A forest licence allows orderly timber harvest over a portion of a sustained yield management unit, and the timely reforestation of harvested areas according to a strategic resource management plan for each timber supply area. The licence has a term of 15 to 20 years, generally replaceable every five years (some are non-replaceable) and operating areas that shift over time. A forest licence specifies an annual allowable cut, requires a management and working plan, and specified management activities.
Renewal of a tree crop by either natural or artificial means.
Resources and values associated with forests and range including, without limitation, soil, visual quality, timber, water, wildlife, fisheries, recreation, botanical forest products, forage, and biological diversity.
A key planning element in the Forest and Range Practices Act framework and the only plan subject to public review and comment and government approval. In FSPs licensees are required to identify results and/or strategies consistent with government objectives for values such as water, wildlife and soils. These results and strategies must be measurable and once approved are subject to government enforcement. FSPs identify areas within which road construction and harvesting will occur but are not required to show the specific locations of future roads and cutblocks. FSPs can have a term of up to five years.
An established seedling of an acceptable commercial species that is free from growth-inhibiting brush, weed, and excessive tree competition; or young trees that are as high as or higher than competing brush, with one metre of free-growing space around their tops.
A stand of healthy trees of a commercially valuable species, the growth of which is not impeded by competition from plants, shrubs, or other trees.
The amount of available and potentially combustible material, usually expressed as tons per hectare.
The planned manipulation and/or reduction of living or dead forest fuels for forest management and other land use objectives (such as hazard reduction, silvicultural purposes, wildlife habitat improvement) by prescribed fire, mechanical, chemical or biological means and/or changing stand structure and species composition.
An audit of forest practices for performance under all of the relevant requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and/or the Wildfire Act.
A synthetic material placed on the flat, under road fill, with the primary functions of layer separation, aggregate confinement, and distribution of load.
Land on which the vegetation is dominated by grasses, grass like plants, and/or forbs. Grassland is a subset of rangeland.
A channel or miniature valley cut by concentrated, non-continuous runoff such as during snowmelt or following heavy rains.
The place where an organism lives including the characteristics of that environment that make it expecially well suited to meet the life cycle needs of that species.
Any manipulation of habitat that improves its value and ability to meet specified requirements of one or more species.
Management of the forest or range to create environments, which provide habitats (food, shelter) to meet the needs of particular organisms.
A document listing the stands to be harvested per year or period, usually showing types and intensities of harvests for each stand, as well as a timetable for regenerating currently non-productive areas.
The practice of felling and removing trees or the removal of dead or damaged trees from an area.
An aerial harvesting system whereby logs are removed vertically from the forest and flown to a roadside landing or drop zone.
Non-woody vegetation, such as grasses, sedges, reeds and forbs.
A chemical that kills or regulates growth of plant species or groups of species.
A resource management plan that establishes the broader, strategic context for operational plans. The objectives determine the mix of forest resources to be managed in a given area.
A partial harvest removing only the most valuable tree species, or trees of desirable size and quality, without regard for the condition of the residual stand.
Formation of raised mounds of soil in wetlands from trampling by large animals.
Hydrologic recovery is the process by which the hydrologic characteristics of a watershed that has been subject to harvesting are restored to near pre-harvest condition by forest regeneration.
The properties, distribution, and circulation of water and snow.
In-growth is the process whereby previously open forests become denser and treed grasslands become more densely covered with young trees.
Plant species, of the original vegetation, that increase in relative amount due to overgrazing.
An activity, such as harvesting or road construction, that removes trees in an old-growth management area.
Plant species that were absent in undisturbed portions of the original vegetation of a specific range site and will invade following disturbance or continued heavy grazing.
The arrival of an organism in an area where it was not formerly represented.
A review of a decision by a court, authorized and conducted under the Judicial Review Procedure Act, primarily concerned with the fairness of the procedures used to make a decision, whether or not the decision maker was acting within his or her jurisdiction, and errors of law.
The Forest Practices Board's authority to investigate. To be within the Board's jurisdiction, the matter complained of must have happened after June 15, 1995, and concern a party's compliance with the requirements of Parts 2 to 5 of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the regulations, the appropriateness of government enforcement under Part 6, compliance with Parts 2 and 3 of the Wildfire Act, and the appropriateness of government enforcement under Part 3.
Fuels that provide vertical continuity between the surface fuels and crown fuels in a forest stand, thus contributing to the ease of torching and crowning.
A strategic, multi-agency, integrated resource plan at the sub-regional level. It is based on the principles of enhanced public involvement, consideration of all resource values, consensus-based decision making, and resource sustainability.
The process by which decisions are made on future land uses over extended time periods, that are deemed to best serve the general welfare.
A distinct topographic feature, is three-dimensional in form, and is generally defined by ridges, valleys, shorelines, and skylines. Landform examples include hills and mountains.
The forest legislation uses the term landscape in its definitions of visual alterations. However, human perception studies show that the people tend to assess visual disturbance on landforms rather than landscapes. Hence, visual impact assessments are carried out on landforms, not landscapes.
The fundamental characteristics of a specific geographic area, including its biological composition and physical environment.
Planning area delineated on the basis of topographic or geographic features. Typically they cover a watershed or series of watersheds, and range in size from 5,000 to 400,000 hectares.
Often considered to be the entire scene visible from a viewpoint and are usually comprised of several landforms.
The forest legislation uses the term landscape in its definitions of visual alterations. However, human perception studies show that the people tend to assess visual disturbance on landforms rather than landscapes. Hence, visual impact assessments are carried out on landforms, not landscapes.
see riparian leave strip.
An audit of forest practices for performance under some, but not all, of the relevant requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
A plan approved by the district manager for a portion of the provincial forest that provides area-specific resource management objectives for integrating resource use in the area.
Stands or forest types that require similar management practices and can be grouped for treatment as a management unit.
Where management asserts its authority to ensure those elements of an organization (including its resources, systems, processes, culture, structures and tasks) support people in the achievement of the organization's objectives.
Describes management objectives and strategies for all forest resources under a tree farm licence, woodlot licence, pulpwood agreement or forest licence.
The outer portion of a riparian management area situated adjacent to a stream, lake, or wetland and established to conserve and maintain the productivity of aquatic and riparian ecosystems when harvesting is permitted.
A professional climber who ascends trees to prepare them for helicopter harvest as part of the process of single stem harvesting.
The maximum allowable stand density above which stands must be spaced to a target density of well-spaced acceptable stems to achieve free-growing status.
The stand volume divided by stand age or the average growth per year of a tree or stand of trees.
Under the Forest and Range Practices Act, a forest licensees’ operational plan must include measures to deal with natural range barriers and invasive plants. The measures are documented actions a forest licensee commits to carrying-out if their forestry operations are likely to impact natural range barriers or result in the introduction or spread of invasive plants.
Control of invasive plants by physical and mechanical means such as plowing, tilling, chain sawing, and weed whacking.
The process of harvesting timber using mechanized means.
An agreement between ministers defining the roles and responsibilities of each ministry in relation to the other or others, with respect to matters over which the ministers have concurrent jurisdiction.
A legal title to the minerals on, or under, a specified area of land.
The term is not defined in the Forest and Range Practices Act, but it generally means to minimize or reduce the effects of an impact. For natural range barriers, to mitigate usually means the replacement of a natural barrier with a man-made barrier, like a fence.
Plant species that are part of the original flora of an area.
A natural resource district is an administrative area established by the Ministry of Forest, Lands, Resource Operations and Rural development (FLNRORD) with resources and values associated with forest and range including, and without limitation to, soil, visual quality, timber, water, wildlife, fisheries, recreation, botanical forest products, forage, and biological diversity.
See adverse opinion.
The area on which the licensee is responsible for establishing a free-growing crop of trees.
One that appears to involve a matter that is outside the Forest Practices Board's jurisdiction.
Defines the percentage old-growth attributes to be retained within a specified area. The attributes are identified using vegetation inventories, but patches of old-growth are not delineated and mapped.
A species that is not native to the region in which it is found.
Where the auditor, upon reaching a non-compliance conclusion, determines that one or more non-compliance event(s) is not significant and not generally worthy of reporting. However, in certain circumstances, events that are considered not significant non-compliance may be reported as an area requiring improvement.
Any weed designated by the Weed Control Regulations in the Weed Control Act and identified on a noxious weed control list.
A concise, time‐specific statement of measurable planned results that correspond to pre‐established goals in achieving the desired outcome. Commonly includes information on resources to be used, forms the basis for further planning to define the precise steps to be taken, and the resources to be used and assigned responsibility in achieving the identified goals.”
A forest that contains live and dead trees of various sizes, species, composition, and age class structure. Old-growth forests, as part of a slowly changing but dynamic ecosystem, include climax forests but not sub-climax or mid-seral forests. The age and structure of old growth varies significantly by forest type and from one biogeoclimatic zone to another.
Defined areas that contain, or are managed to attain, specific structural old-growth attributes and that are delineated and mapped as fixed areas.
An opportunity for a holder of a licence to review evidence and present its position to a statutory decision-maker with respect to a supposed contravention, before a decision on the contravention is made.
To shape the road surface to direct water away from the cut slope side of the road.
Placing road construction fill over organic soil, stumps and other plant materials, corduroy or geotextiles, any of which is required to support the fill.
That portion of the trees in a forest of more than one storey forming the upper or uppermost canopy layer.
A general term referring to silvicultural systems other than clearcutting, in which only selected trees are harvested. Partial cutting systems include seed tree, shelterwood, selection, and clearcutting with reserves.
All those directly involved in a complaint including complainants, subjects, parties and adversely affected persons, but not other interested persons.
As defined in the Forest and Range Practices Act, "party" means
(a) the government,
(b) the holder of an agreement under the Forest Act,
(c) the holder of an agreement under the Range Act,
(d) a person responsible for establishing a free growing stand as a result of an agreement referred to in section 29.1 (1) or (3),
(e) a person responsible for maintaining or deactivating a road, under a regulation under section 155 (1) (d), or
(f) a person referred to in section 122 (2) who may be audited or investigated under that section.
A condition where the soil has eroded from around individual plants leaving them on small pedestals of soil. Sometimes results from frost heaving.
A deeply-rooted plant deriving its moisture from subsurface sources.
Any disturbance that is concentrated within a small area, such as at a gate or stream crossing.
Knowledgeable and controlled application of fire to a specific unit of land to meet predetermined resource management objectives.
All activities that interrupt the dispersal of new invasive plant species into a geographic area or specific location where they were not previously found.
Reliance on the judgment of appropriate professionals who are authorized and qualified to provide a service.
The ability of a stream, river, wetland, or lake, and its riparian area, to withstand: normal peak flood events without experiencing accelerated soil loss; channel movement or bank movement; filter runoff; and store and safely release water.
Deep hoof prints left by large ungulates on moist, fine-textured soils of streams and wetlands.
When significant non-compliance is found in an audit, but it is neither pervasive nor of a sufficient magnitude to warrant an overall negative conclusion.
A framework for a program that ensures efficient and effective processes are utilized to ensure that the program is in compliance with statutory requirements. These processes could include inspections, monitoring and audits.
A decision made by a government official or tribunal which involves the application of law to a particular set of facts requiring the exercise of discretion and the application of the principles of natural justice.
Any land supporting vegetation that is suitable for grazing.
Any practice, treatment or structure designed to improve forage quality or quantity on an area.
Crown range and land subject to an agreement under section 18 of the Range Act.
A distinct discipline founded on ecological principles and dealing with the use of rangelands and range resources for a variety of purposes. These purposes include use of watersheds, wildlife habitat, grazing by livestock, recreation and aesthetics, as well as other associated uses.
(Source: Campbell, C.W. and Bawtree, A.H. (eds.), 1998. Range Handbook for BC. BC Cattlemen’s Association, Kamloops)
A prescribed activity (e.g., grazing of livestock, cutting of hay, and activities related to these practices, or activities related to constructing, modifying, or maintaining a range development) that is carried out on Crown range by the holder of an agreement under the Range Act or by a person other than the holder of the agreement.
Criteria in the range use plan that are used to determine when a range is ready for grazing.
An operational plan under the Forest and Range Practices Act that may be prepared in place of a range use plan by those who have demonstrated a level of competence in range management. This plan is less prescriptive, provides options for more flexibility for experienced operators, and encourages innovation.
An operational plan that includes requirements specified by the Forest and Range Practices Act and allows aRange Act agreement holder to graze livestock or cut hay on Crown range.
A relatively homogeneous portion of a stream that has a sequence of repeating structural characteristics.
Recruitment is the act of identifying stands, either spatially or non-spatially, that do not currently meet the requisite old-growth characteristics but are intended to contribute to targets at some point in the future.
Indigenous species that are extirpated, endangered or threatened in British Columbia.
The process by which applications for permits, licences, etc., made to one government agency by an individual or industry, are given to another agency for review and comment.
The re-establishment of trees on denuded forest land by natural or artificial means, such as planting and seeding.
Regeneration delay is the maximum time allowed in a prescription, between the start of harvesting in the area to which the prescription applies, and the earliest date by which the prescription requires a minimum number of acceptable well‐spaced trees per hectare to be growing in that area.
To an agreement holder are orders to do work to remedy a Forest and Range Practices Act contravention, including any damage done to the land.
(see section 182) The Board must, prior to publishing a report or recommendation, consider whether or not it may adversely affect a party or person. The Board must give any affected party or person the opportunity to review, rebut or clarify the information before the Board publishes its report.
An area of forestland that, by law or policy, is not available for harvesting. Areas of land and water set aside for ecosystem protection, outdoor and tourism values, preservation of rare species, gene pool, wildlife protection, etc.
An area in which no timber harvesting is allowed to occur.
A small channel created on steep slopes by water erosion.
Relating to, or situated on, the banks of a river, lake or wetland.
The banks and adjacent areas of a stream, river, lake or wetland. It contains vegetation that, due to the presence of water, is distinctly different from the vegetation of adjacent upland areas.
River, stream, lake or wetland.
An unharvested border of forest around a riparian feature.
An area that consists of a riparian management zone and a riparian reserve zone.
A portion of the riparian management area established to conserve the fish, wildlife habitat, biodiversity and the water values of the riparian management zone, and to protect the riparian reserve zone, if any, within the riparian management area.
See riparian area.
Risk is a hazard (probability of occurence) combined with consequence.
The estimation of the likelihood of loss or damage, and the magnitude of the consequence should the loss or damage occur. In forestry, risk assessment includes the process of identifying the degree of risk that timber harvesting and road building imposes on adjacent and downslope social, economic, and forest resource values. The severity of each potential hazard and the magnitude of the potential consequences that correspond to each hazard provide the overall risk associated with harvesting a site.
The "art" of weighing the assessed risks (i.e., the likelihood of a potential loss to an environmental, social or economic value) against the expected benefits that may be gained from that action or decision.
Consists of measures to stabilize roads and logging trails during periods of commercial harvesting inactivity. It includes controlling drainage, removing side-cast where necessary and re-establishing vegetation for permanent deactivation.
A road prism is the area consisting of the road surface, any cut slopes, ditches or road fill.
A rehabilitated road has all structures removed (including water bars and cross ditches), the road surface is loosened, surface re-contoured, and natural drainage patterns restored and trees planted (on forest land) to get roads back into forest production.
Road rehabilitation is an Association of BC Forest Professionals best practice for roads where there is a silvicultural obligation.
Property or goods saved from damage or destruction.
Logging operations specifically designed to remove damaged timber (dead or in poor condition) and yield a wood product. Often carried out following fire, insect attack or windthrow.
Means any visually sensitive area or scenic landscape identified through a visual landscape inventory or planning process carried out or approved by a district manager.
Wet areas, normally not flowing, arising from an underground water source.
Refers to species or communities that are eventually replaced by other species or communities through succession.
Any stage of development of an ecosystem from a disturbed, unvegetated state to a climax plant community.
A silvicultural system in which trees are removed in a series of cuts designed to achieve a new even-aged stand under the shelter of remaining trees.
Moving excavated material onto the downslope side of a temporary access structure, excavated or bladed trail, or landing during its construction.
Where the auditor finds that significant harm has occurred, or is beginning to occur, to persons or the environment as a result of one or many non-compliance events.
If it is determined that a significant breach has occurred, the auditor is required by the Forest Practices Board Regulation to immediately advise the Board, the party being audited, and the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.
Where the auditor determines a non-compliance event(s) or condition(s) is or has the potential to be significant, and is considered worthy of reporting.
The art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health and quality of forests and woodlands. Silviculture entails the manipulation of forest and woodland vegetation in stands and on landscapes to meet the diverse needs and values of landowners and society on a sustainable basis.
A site‐specific plan that is required in place of a silviculture prescription as of December 17, 2002, except where there is already an existing silviculture prescription. The site plan contains some of the same elements as a silviculture prescription and is designed to identify resource values and define what a free‐growing stand will be on that site. However, it is not an operational plan under the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) and does not require review or approval by government to be implemented.
A Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations program that enables registered individuals or companies to acquire rights to harvest Crown timber under a timber sale licence. The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Opereations holds responsibility for most forestry planning and management requirements.
Disturbance to the soil in the net area to be reforested resulting from the construction of temporary access structures or gouges, ruts, scalps or compacted areas resulting from forestry activities. Without rehabilitation, disturbed sites often have reduced soil productivity and may not provide optimum growing conditions for new trees. For that reason, maximum allowable amounts of soil disturbance are set in regulation.
Using forest inventories to locate and map areas containing, or managed to contain, old-growth attributes. Spatially identifying these areas leads to their designation as legal or non-legal old-growth management areas.
A species that is extirpated, endangered, threatened or of special concern.
A formal written enactment of a legislative body (e.g., the provincial legislature or federal Parliament).
An official with the authority to make a decision under an Act or regulations, such as a district manager or a designated official from one of the three ministries.
The Forest Practices Board defines stewardship as: Ensuring responsible resource use today, while maintaining the health of the land for future generations.
For more information refer to Board Bulletin v.17: Stewardship - A Forest Practices Board Perspective
The range of healthy, well-spaced, acceptable trees required to establish a free-growing stand or to meet the residual stand requirements following an intermediate cutting or the harvesting of special forest products.
The bottom of the stream below the usual water surface.
The stream bed and banks formed by fluvial processes, including deposited organic debris.
See reach.
Stubble height is the measurement of the height of grass after grazing occurs and is an indicator of the volume of grass that can be safely grazed without causing significant harm to the forage species; grazing too much of the grass plant will stop root growth36 and reduce survival. Appropriate stubble heights vary by grass species based on growth characteristics.
A unit of the Biogeoclimatic Ecological Classification with less climatic variability and a narrower geographic distribution than the zone. Subzones are distinguished by a unique composition of plant species. They are climatically based and represent precipitation and temperature regimes.
A state or process that can be maintained indefinitely. The principles of sustainability integrate three closely interlined elements-the environment, the economy and the social system-into a system that can be maintained in a healthy state indefinitely.
Preservation and protection of diverse ecosystems―the soil, plants, animals, insects and fungi―while maintaining the forest's productivity.
Management regimes applied to forest land which maintain the productive and renewal capacities as well as the genetic, species and ecological diversity of forest ecosystems.
A tree or tall-shrub dominated wetland with mineral or occasionally peat soils that experiences periodic flooding and nearly permanent subsurface water flow. The waters are nutrient rich.
A tree or tall-shrub dominated wetland with mineral or occasionally peat soils that experiences periodic flooding and nearly permanent subsurface water flow. The waters are nutrient rich.
An individual, group or company that holds a licence agreement under the Forest Act or Range Act.
Crown forest land within the timber supply area where timber harvesting is considered both acceptable and economically feasible, given objectives for all relevant forest values, existing timber quality, market values, and applicable technology
A process, initiated in 1992, to regularly review the timber supply and the allowable annual cut (AAC) in each of the province’s 37 timber supply areas and 34 tree farm licences. Each review includes an estimate of the area’s long-term sustainable harvesting level and an analysis of projected timber supplies for the short term (20 years), medium term (21–100 years), and long term (200 years or more). Alternative AAC scenarios are investigated in terms of their timber supply, and environmental, economic, and social implications. The chief forester uses this information to determine the AACs for each management unit.
Treading underfoot; the damage to plants or soil brought about by movements or congestion of animals.
Trap trees purposely attract the beetle population into pre-selected downed material so that adjacent standing timber is protected. Conventional trap trees are living, large diameter spruce which are felled to attract spruce beetles. Trap trees felled into the shade and left unbucked and unlimbed may absorb up to ten times the number of beetles a standing tree will absorb. Trap trees must be subsequently removed or treated to kill the trapped beetles.
An area based tenure agreement that issues the rights to harvest an allowable annual cut in a specified area. These licences commit the licensee to manage the entire area under the general supervision of the Forest Service. Cutting from all lands requires Forest Service approval through the issuance of cutting permits. A TFL has a term of 25 years.
A professional climber who ascends trees to prepare them for helicopter harvest as part of the process of single stem harvesting.
Act of turning livestock out on the range at the beginning of the grazing season.
Any plants growing under the canopy formed by other plants, particularly herbaceous and shrub vegetation under a tree canopy.
Species that contribute negatively to the management objectives.
An area containing habitat that is necessary to meet the winter habitat requirements of an ungulate species. UWRs are based on the current understanding of ungulate habitat requirements in winter, as interpreted by the Ministry of Environment regional staff from current scientific and management literature, local knowledge, and other expertise from the region. Sections 9 and 12 of the Government Actions Regulation of the Forest and Range Practices Act outline the regulatory authority for establishing UWR.
Where the auditor identifies a significant practice that, although found to be in compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act or the Wildfire Act, is not considered to be sound management.
Land elevated above a riparian area.
The proportion of current year’s forage production that is consumed or destroyed by grazing animals. May refer either to a single species or to the vegetation as a whole.
The plants or plant parts, living or dead, which protect the ground surface. Cover may also refer to the area of ground cover by plants of one or more species.
Identification, classification and inventory of location and quality of visual resources and values.
A resource management objective established by the district manager or contained in a higher level plan that reflects the desired level of visual quality based on the physical characteristics and social concern for the area.
Defined by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, VEG is of the stage at which regeneration is seen by the public as newly established forest. When VEG is achieved the forest cover generally blocks views of tree stumps, logging debris and bare ground. Distinctions in height, colour, and texture may remain between a cutblock and adjacent forest but the cutblock will no longer be seen as recently cut-over.
Are areas that could cause concern if forest practices or other resource development activities alter their visual appearance.
Grants licensees the right to harvest a set volume (cubic metres) of timber within a specified timber supply area each year for the term of the licence; allows several licensees to operate in the same management unit. Examples include the larger and more common Forest Licence and the Timber Sale Licence.
An area of land drained by a stream or river, above a given point on a waterway that contributes runoff water to the flow at that point.
1. A plant growing where it is not wanted;
2. A plant that interferes with management objectives for a given area of land at a given point in time.
A class of wetland having mineral soils which are periodically saturated. Dominant vegetation consists of water-tolerant grasses, sedges, rushes and forbs.
Areas characterized by soils that are usually saturated and support mostly water-loving plants.
Industrial or forest service road no longer being used for the purpose of an industrial activity.
An area where human development meets or is intermingled with forest and grassland fuel types.
Areas of land and water that support specific wildlife or groups of wildlife.
Standing trees that are resistant to breaking or windthrow from the wind.
An accumulation of slash, branchwood and debris on a harvested cutblock created to clear the ground for regeneration. Also refers to an accumulation of fill or surfacing material left on the road shoulder as a result of grading operations.
A tree, or trees, uprooted by the wind.
The wooded portion of a private property upon which small-scale forestry operations are carried out.
An area based agreement similar to a Tree Farm Licence, but on a smaller scale, and allows for small-scale forestry to be practiced in a described area (Crown and private) on a sustained or perpetual yield basis.
