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