Board to audit five woodlots near Fort St. John

VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine forest planning and practices on five woodlots in the Peace Resource District, starting Sept. 17, 2018.

Auditors will examine whether harvesting, roads, bridges, silviculture, fire protection and associated planning carried out between Sept. 1, 2016, and Sept. 21, 2018, met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.

The Peace district was randomly selected for audit. The board then selected woodlots as the focus of the audit. The woodlots are located within an hour to two-hour drive from Fort St. John, in an area also known for oil and gas development and ranching. Of the five woodlots, two were affected by wildfires in 2016.

Once the audit work is complete, a report will be prepared, and 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:

Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899