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VICTORIA – An audit of forest planning and practices in the Kootenay Lake Forest District has found compliance, according to a Forest Practices Board report.

The audit of the British Columbia Timber Sales (BCTS) program, and 16 timber sale licence holders, took place from June 25 to 28, 2007.  It checked for compliance with the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act (the Code), the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA), and the Wildfire Act (WA) and related regulations.

“The board commends the performance of BCTS and the licensees in this audit, and recognizes the diligence required to achieve these audit results,” said board chair Bruce Fraser.

Planning, activities and obligations examined during the course of the audit included:  operational planning; more than 31 kilometres of BCTS road construction, as well as maintenance of more than 400 kilometres of roads; 23 bridges; 15 free-growing blocks; and 29 harvesting cutblocks.

In addition, harvest activities, which are administered by the BCTS Kootenay Business Area office in Nelson, were assessed for compliance with the requirements of the Kootenay Boundary Higher Level Plan Order, which has been in place since 2001.  Key requirements of this order include old and mature timber conservation and protection of important caribou and grizzly bear habitat.

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.

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