Board to audit recreation management in Central Cariboo

VICTORIA – Management of recreation sites and trails within the Central Cariboo Forest District will be audited by the Forest Practices Board during the week of Aug. 11, 2008. The board carries out periodic independent audits to see if government and forest companies are complying with provincial forest practices legislation.

In January 2006, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts took over responsibility of these sites from the Ministry of Forests and Range. This is the first time the board has audited MTCA.

The audit will examine recreation resource management, recreation use management and government enforcement.

The four-member audit team will look at sites and trails in and around the communities of Williams Lake, Horsefly and Likely. Once the analysis is complete, an audit 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 lands;
• audits appropriateness of government enforcement;
• investigates public complaints;
• undertakes special investigations of current forestry issues;
• participates in administrative appeals; and
• makes recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.

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