Board to audit four Sunshine Coast community forests

VICTORIA – Four community forest licences in the Sunshine Coast Forest District—K3F, held by Sechelt Community Projects Inc.; K3G, held by Powell River Community Forest Ltd.; K4C, held by Klahoose Forestry Limited Partnership; and K3P, held by Tla’Amin Timber Products Ltd.—will be audited starting the week of July 24, 2011.

The audits will examine operational planning, harvesting, roads, silviculture and fire protection activities for compliance with forest practices legislation and will cover an area ranging from Toba Inlet to the community of Sechelt. Of the four community forest licences in the district, two are managed by First Nations — the Klahoose and the Sliammon — and the other two are managed by the City of Powell River and the District of Sechelt.

Once the audit work is completed, 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.

Community forests are area-based tenures managed by a local government, community group or First Nation for the benefit of the entire community.

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.

More information can be obtained by contacting:

Helen Davies, Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4708 / 1 800 994-5899