VICTORIA – The Burns Lake Indian Band fully met the requirements of forest practices legislation while harvesting beetle-infested stands in the Nadina Forest District, the Forest Practices Board reported today.

“The board is pleased to see that the Band is focused on public awareness and is actively engaged with other forest users in the area, taking the extra step to ensure users have a voice in the Band’s harvest planning and practices,” said board chair Bruce Fraser. “Although the Band has completed its cut on this non-replaceable forest licence, the board encourages the Band to continue to operate in this diligent manner in the future, if it obtains an additional licence.”

The audit report covered forest operations carried out by the Burns Lake Indian Band on non-replaceable forest licence A72919, located southeast of Burns Lake, for the period from June 1, 2005 to June 1, 2006. Auditors examined operational planning, timber harvesting, forest road activities, silviculture, and fire protection obligations.

The Forest Practices Board is an independent public watchdog that reports to the public about compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) and the achievement of its intent. The board’s main roles under FRPA are:

• Auditing forest practices of government and licence holders on public lands.
• Auditing government enforcement of FRPA .
• Investigating public complaints.
• Undertaking special investigations of forestry issues.
• Participating in administrative appeals.
• Providing reports on board activities, findings and recommendations.