VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine activities on woodlot licences W0295, W0657, W1431, W1881, W1888 and W1893, located in the Fort St. James district, during the week of Sept. 19 to 25.

The audit will examine timber harvesting, road construction and maintenance, silviculture, fire protection and associated planning activities carried out by the licence-holders. Auditors may also examine woodlot program activities by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, as well as compliance and enforcement activities.

The Fort St James district was randomly selected for audit, and the board then selected the six woodlots with the largest amount of harvesting in the last two years. These woodlots each harvested between 11,000 and 103,000 cubic metres of wood (that’s approximately 300 to 2,900 truckloads).

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.

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