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VICTORIA – The BC Timber Sales Program and timber sale licence holders in Fort St. John have received good grades from the Forest Practices Board for their operations under a Forest Practices Code pilot project.

In 1999, the provincial government passed legislation to enable results-based pilot projects under the former Forest Practices Code. Only two such pilot projects are active in British Columbia (Stillwater and Fort St. John), and the board audited the Fort St. John Code pilot project.

In the Fort St. John pilot area, licensees commit to measurable targets for forest practices and are subject to regular third-party verification of compliance. Board auditors were able to use some of this information to help measure licensee performance under the pilot regulation.

“The board was impressed with the high level of performance under this unique legislative framework,” said board chair Bruce Fraser. “The board will issue a bulletin on aspects of the Fort St. John pilot project in the coming months.”

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;
• audits appropriateness of government enforcement;
• investigates public complaints;
• undertakes special investigations of current forestry issues;
• participates in administrative appeals; and
• makes recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.