Four woodlots near Burns Lake pass audit

VICTORIA – An audit of forestry activities on four woodlots in the Nadina Resource District has concluded that the woodlot licensees complied with British Columbia’s forestry legislation, according to the audit reports that have been released.

The audits examined planning, timber harvesting, roads, silviculture and fire protection activities, carried out between October 2015 and October 2017, in four woodlots, all located near Burns Lake.

“The board is pleased that the audit found the holder of woodlot licence 2050 fully met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act,” said Bruce Larson, vice-chair of the Forest Practices Board. “Not many of the woodlots we have audited in the past several years have achieved that.”

For woodlots 1687, 1690, and 1691, auditors found that the licensees met most legal requirements, but did not complete fire hazard assessments on time.

“Assessing fire hazard is a legal requirement, and must be completed at required intervals after harvest has started,” said Larson. “In these cases, the licensees reduced the fire hazards to a safe level, so this was considered an area for improvement.”

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 and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.

Contact:

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