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