VICTORIA– The Forest Practices Board will audit the harvest practices and associated planning of Western Forest Products on the Quatsino tree farm licence (TFL 6) on northern Vancouver Island.

This licensee was selected from those within the North Island – Central Coast Forest district because it is the most active. Selection was not influenced by level of performance or location.

TFL 6 covers nearly 200,000 hectares of land base. Its annual allowable cut is about 1.3 million cubic metres. Forestry is a main source of industry for the communities near and within the tree farm, including Port Hardy, Port McNeill and Port Alice.

The audit will examine areas harvested between June 1, 2005, and June 1, 2007. Particular attention will be given to assessing the integrity of reserves, which protect areas of social and ecological significance. Auditors will be on site the week of June 25.

The board carries out periodic independent audits to see if government and forest companies are complying with provincial forest practices legislature. Once the analysis is complete, an audit report will be prepared and any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board’s final report and recommendations will then be released to the public and government.

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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