For immediate release
May 24, 2022
VICTORIA – During the week of May 30, 2022, the Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber-sale licence holders near Williams Lake, in the Cariboo-Chilcotin Natural Resource District.
Auditors will examine whether timber harvesting, roads, bridges, silviculture, fire protection activities and associated planning carried out between June 1, 2020, and June 3, 2022, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
The audit area is located in the Williams Lake Timber Supply Area (TSA), which includes the communities of Williams Lake, Anahim Lake, Tatla Lake, Alexis Creek, and Horsefly. The TSA overlaps the traditional territories of the Secwepemc, Tsilhqot’in, and the Southern Dakelh Nation Alliance. There are many resources in the TSA, including timber, recreation, tourism, ranching, and wildlife.
Once the audit work is complete, a report will be prepared. Any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board’s final report and recommendations will then be released to the public and government.
Of the 12 BCTS programs in the province, two BCTS programs are randomly chosen each year for audit. Audit selections are not based on complaints or on the past performance of the BCTS program.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.’s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.
For more information:
Website: www.bcfpb.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/BC-Forest-Board/163884970335862
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bc_fpboard
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bcfpb
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 480-8594 / 1 800 994-5899
PORT MCNEILL – The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber sale licence holders in the North Island-Central Coast Natural Resource District, during the week starting Sept. 28, 2020.
This BCTS program is one of two chosen randomly for audit this year from among all the BCTS programs in the province. Auditors will examine whether timber harvesting, roads, bridges, silviculture, fire protection activities and associated planning, carried out between Sept. 1, 2019, and Oct. 2, 2020, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
The audit will focus on BCTS's operations on northern Vancouver Island, from the Nimpkish River in the south to the north end of the island, and operations on the mainland, from Knight Inlet north to Kinsquit and Klemtu, within the Great Bear Rainforest.
Once the audit work is complete, a report will be prepared. Any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board's final report and recommendations then will be released to the public and government.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – A special investigation of reforestation in dry interior Douglas-fir (IDF) forests in the B.C. interior has found current efforts may not be leading to future healthy forests, according to a report released on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020.
"While we found that industry is following legal requirements and is increasingly planting a variety of tree species to regenerate logged areas and promote resiliency, 44 of the 69 sites examined are facing health issues," said Kevin Kriese, board chair, Forest Practices Board. "These sites may not grow to healthy forests in the long term, and that has implications for future timber supply and other values, such as wildlife habitat.
There were a number of reasons for the poor regeneration success, including an over-reliance on clearcutting. In this ecosystem, uneven age forests are common and partial cutting systems should be more widely used to mimic natural disturbances and provide the shade and protection regenerating trees require.
"Climate change introduces additional uncertainties for these sites, such as increased drought, fire and forest-health concerns. Many of these sites will likely shift to grassland as the climate changes, and long-term timber production may not be feasible or realistic in the future on all sites."
The investigation found systemic gaps in knowledge and experience required to successfully manage and reforest these complex sites. While best management practice guidelines are available, forest professionals and forest workers did not always follow them. Government recognizes the challenges of reforestation in the dry IDF and continues to improve reforestation guidance. However, voluntary guidance alone is likely not enough. It needs to be accompanied by clear objectives and legal requirements.
"The board recommends that government reassess the long-term reforestation objectives for these ecosystems, and update objectives and standards based on the likely consequences of climate change," Kriese said. "We also encourage training for forest professionals and workers operating in dry IDF ecosystems."
The IDF covers about 5% of the province, in the central Interior from the Kootenays through the Thompson-Okanagan and north to the Cariboo. These ecosystems are ecologically and climatically complex and require very particular silviculture strategies to ensure successful regeneration.
The investigation included sites logged between 2007 and 2017, in the Cariboo-Chilcotin, Cascades, Thompson Rivers and Okanagan-Shuswap Natural Resource Districts.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board can investigate and report on current forestry and range issues and make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board has released its 2019-20 annual report, which describes the board's work over the past year and highlights its accomplishments over the past 25 years.
"This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Forest Practices Board," said Kevin Kriese, board chair. "I would like to acknowledge the five board chairs, 42 part-time board members and 126 employees and co-op students who have contributed to more than 600 reports and 500 recommendations for improving forest and range practices in British Columbia.
"This year has also brought us unparalleled social and economic uncertainty with the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent months, the board has had to examine how we can fulfill our mandate to audit and investigate, while complying with provincial guidance, keeping our employees safe and respecting the wishes of small communities.
"While this has created challenges for how we operate, it has also led to innovations, including how we communicate our reports and recommendations, which will help us to serve the public better in the future.
"One of our main accomplishments this past year was the approval of a new strategic plan that will guide our work over the next few years. The plan sets four strategic priorities: Indigenous engagement; increasing impact and influence change; preparing for the future; and continuously improving existing work ??and identifying key performance indicators, which are addressed in this annual report."
The annual report details accomplishments in 2019-20, including:
The 2019-20 annual report is available on the board's website: www.bcfpb.ca
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.?s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will audit forest service roads (FSRs) maintained in the Campbell River, Okanagan-Shuswap and Peace natural resource districts.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, these audits will be carried out in two phases. The first phase will be office work to identify road populations and the second will be the fieldwork. The board will determine when it is appropriate to begin site inspections, likely in late summer or early fall, and will comply with the precautions recommended by the provincial health officer to keep employees and auditees safe.
The limited-scope compliance audit will focus on the district managers' obligations on FSRs in the Campbell River, Okanagan-Shuswap and the Dawson Creek portion of the Peace natural resource districts, near the communities of Campbell River, Vernon and Dawson Creek. Auditors will examine whether the FSRs meet the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act.
Once the audit work is complete, a report will be prepared. Any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board's final report and recommendations then will be released to the public and government.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.
Contact:
Kairry Nguyen
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4703 / 1 800 994-5899
BURNS LAKE – The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber-sale licence holders in the Nadina Natural Resource District portion of the Babine Business Area during the week of Aug. 17, 2020.
Auditors will examine whether timber harvesting, roads, bridges, silviculture, fire protection activities and associated planning carried out between Aug. 1, 2018, and Aug. 21, 2020, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
This BCTS program is one of two chosen randomly each year for audit from all the BCTS programs in the province. This audit will focus on the Burns Lake field unit, which has an allowable annual cut allocation of 284,506 cubic metres.
The Burns Lake field unit is located in the Lakes Timber Supply Area (TSA). It is bound by Tweedsmuir Provincial Park to the south and includes Babine, Francois and Ootsa Lakes – some of B.C.'s largest natural bodies of freshwater.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, audits will be carried out in compliance with the provincial health officer's recommended precautions to keep employees, the auditees and local communities safe.
Once the audit work is complete, a report will be prepared. Any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board?s final report and recommendations will then be released to the public and government.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.
Contact:
Kairry Nguyen
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4703 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, has announced the appointment of two new members to the Forest Practices Board.
Kevin Kriese, board chair, is pleased to welcome members Cindy Stern and Gail Wallin.
"Cindy brings a wealth of strategic forestry knowledge and important experience working with First Nations to the board," Kriese said. "Gail brings her governance and conflict resolution experience and her knowledge of a broad range of forest and range issues and stakeholders.
"Both of them complement the current experience on the board and will help us to ensure the many diverse points of view across the public spectrum are considered in our work."
A registered professional forester, Stern has spent the past 14 years as a consultant working primarily with First Nations communities on the B.C. coast, advising on strategic forestry matters, resource management, economic development and administration. Prior to that, she held several leadership positions with B.C.?s ministry of forests and range and the Ontario ministry of natural resources.
Wallin has worked in the natural resource management field as an outdoor educator, professional facilitator and as an executive with non-government organizations. She has held senior leadership roles with the BC Forestry Association, Fraser Basin Council and is currently the executive director for the Invasive Species Council of BC. For over 25 years, Wallin has also had her own consulting business specializing in facilitation of natural resource and Indigenous initiatives.
The new appointees join current vice-chair Bruce Larson, and members Rick Monchak and Gerry Grant.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices and appropriateness of government enforcement on public lands, investigates public complaints and current forestry issues, participates in administrative appeals and makes recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.?s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 480-8594
VICTORIA – An audit of the BC Timber Sales (BCTS) program and timber-sale licensees operating under the program has found poor results.
Timber sales licensees were fully compliant with the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) but had several non-compliances with Wildfire Act requirements. BCTS had several non-compliance issues under FRPA, as well as an unsound practice.
The audit found that BCTS did not meet FRPA requirements for construction of a road and three bridges and for not reporting silviculture activities to government. Plans for the constructed bridges also were not adequate.
"Although our recent special investigation found that bridge construction practices are better than what we found in 2014, this audit demonstrates that there is still room for improvement," said Kevin Kriese, board chair, Forest Practices Board.
Two timber-sale licensees did not have a water delivery system on two cutblocks while conducting high-risk activities, which is in non-compliance with the Wildfire Act. Another licensee did not follow the recommendations in a terrain field assessment and only two of 11 timber-sale licensees completed required fire hazard assessments.
"We are also disappointed that we continue to see operators not documenting fire hazard assessments and some licensees not having proper firefighting systems on site as required by the Wildfire Act," Kriese said. ?Given the risk that wildfire poses to communities, these are not acceptable results. We expect to see improvements to the program as a result of this audit work.
"The audit examined activities in the Quesnel Natural Resource District portion of the larger BCTS Cariboo-Chilcotin Business Area. This included harvesting 106 cutblocks, constructing over 130 kilometres of road and four bridges, road and bridge maintenance and deactivation, reforestation, wildfire protection and associated planning carried out between June 2018 and June 2019.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices on public lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices
and legislation.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 480-8594
VICTORIA – A new special investigation examining how forest and range practices are protecting fish habitat under the Forest and Range Practices Act has been released.
Board investigators examined forest and range practices in five watersheds throughout the province.
"We found that practices, such as maintaining fish passage and riparian management, are quite good," said Kevin Kriese, chair, Forest Practices Board. "However, sediment from roads was a high risk to fish habitat in three of the five watersheds assessed. The science is very clear that increased sediment in fish streams damages fish habitat. Greater attention must be paid to sediment management in all phases of a road, including design, construction, maintenance and deactivation."
The board recommends government amend the legislation to ensure a clear and enforceable requirement to minimize the sediment entering streams during road construction, maintenance and deactivation, and that updated guidance and standards for road construction and maintenance be provided to industry.
The investigation found licensees are protecting fish passage at stream crossings, mainly by using bridges and other open-bottom structures on fish streams. They are also retaining buffers of trees along fish streams to provide protection.
The report identifies the main impacts to fish habitat as:
The investigation looked at protecting fish habitat from forest and range practices in these areas:
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board can investigate and report on current forestry and range issues and make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 480-8594
VICTORIA – Cooper Creek Cedar is generally meeting the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act on Forest Licence A30171 near Kaslo, according to a new report.
The audit looked at timber harvesting, road and bridge construction, maintenance and deactivation, reforestation, wildfire protection and associated planning carried out between Sept. 1, 2017, and Sept. 26, 2019.
"This is a very challenging operating area for engineering, harvesting and silviculture, with many sensitive environmental values and local public interest,"said Kevin Kriese, chair, Forest Practices Board. "In addition, a previous owner of the forest licence left a legacy of poor practices that was inherited by Cooper Creek when it took over.
"We were pleased to find that Cooper Creek carried out sound forest practices. Auditors specifically looked at old-growth management and caribou-habitat protection, and found Cooper Creek fully complied with legal requirements for both. Cooper Creek is also making significant investments to address the legacy issues arising from poor reforestation in the past. The quality of practices on the ground exceeded legal requirements in several respects."
The audit did find a non-compliance involving an excavator, which crossed a bridge that was not rated to handle the weight of the machine. The audit also found that Cooper Creek needs to prepare site plans for roads built outside of cutblocks. As the roads themselves were well built, this was considered an area for improvement. The company has since put in place a new process and is preparing site plans for roads built outside of cutblocks.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board audits forest and range practices on public lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Contact:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 480-8594
