Victoria - Tolko Industries Questwood Division in Quesnel is complying with the Forest Practices Code, according to a Forest Practices Board audit released today.

"Tolko’s practices complied with the Code in all significant respects. In some instances, Tolko left more trees and vegetation next to streams and wetlands than the Code requires, in order to ensure stream protection" said Board chair, Keith Moore. "We also noted Tolko's efforts to ensure that interested persons could review minor changes to the approved forest development plan, even though these types of changes are not normally provided for public review under the Code."

The audit examined timber harvesting, construction, maintenance and deactivation of roads, and the associated planning, carried out between May 1997 and July 1998 on Tolko’s Forest Licence A20010. The licence was selected for audit randomly, not on the basis of location or level of performance. The operating areas are located west of Quesnel.

The Board has undertaken nine compliance audits in 1998. The report on an audit of Riverside Forest Product’s forest licence near Salmon Arm and Vernon was also released today, and was also a clean audit. Two other 1998 audits were released last month and were also clean audits. "These results support the Board’s observations that compliance with the Code has improved each year since it came into effect," said Moore.

Created in 1995, the Board is BC’s independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board reports to the public and government about compliance with the Forest Practices Code and the achievement of its intent. The Board’s main roles are: auditing forest practices, undertaking investigations in response to public complaints, undertaking special investigations of any Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals and providing reports on Board activities, findings and recommendations