VICTORIA – An audit of Northern Engineered Wood Products' (NEWP) non-renewable forest licence A85566 found the company met all requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act, according to a new report.

"Our audit found that all activities met the legal requirements," said Kevin Kriese, chair of the Forest Practices Board. "We are pleased to note that NEWP protected more wildlife trees than legally required in order to meet the chief forester's Guidance on Landscape- and Stand-level Structural Retention in Large-Scale Mountain Pine Beetle Salvage Operations and planted some Douglas fir and larch in anticipation of climate change."

The audited activities include harvesting of 16 cutblocks, construction of 35 kilometres of new road, maintenance of 12 kilometres of existing road and deactivation of one bridge. Regeneration and fire prevention activities on logged sites were also examined.

The audited activities are in the Morice Timber Supply Area portion of the Nadina Natural Resource District and are located south and northeast of Houston and north of Francois Lake.

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
250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899