Victoria – Doman-Western Lumber’s operations on the west side of Vancouver Island are complying with the Forest Practices Code, according to a Forest Practices Board audit released today. The Board’s audit examined Doman’s Tree Farm Licence 19 which is located near Gold River, Tahsis and Zeballos.

“Doman-Western complied with the Code in all significant respects. In many instances, the company’s practices next to non-fish bearing streams met or exceeded the practices recommended in the Code and its guidebooks. These practices included the retention of trees and other vegetation, which help protect stream ecosystems and the diversity of wildlife habitat and vegetation. The Board notes the high degree of compliance and commends Doman-Western’s practices in areas next to streams,” said Board Chair, Keith Moore.

The Doman-Western audit is the fifth to receive a clean opinion on timber harvesting and road activities since the Board began auditing in 1996. Sixteen audits have been completed to date. A clean opinion indicates that all of the timber harvesting, and road construction, maintenance and deactivation activities examined during the audit complied with the Code in all significant respects. “These results support the Board’s observation that compliance with the Code is generally high and has improved each year since it came into effect,” said Moore. “However, we are still seeing significant non-compliance in some of our other audits.”

This audit examined timber harvesting, construction, maintenance and deactivation of roads, and the associated planning carried out between August 1997 and August 1998. TFL 19 is managed by three divisons within Doman-Western’s Nootka Region: the Gold River, Nootka Contract and Zeballos forest operations. The TFL was selected for audit randomly, not on the basis of location or level of performance.

Created in 1995, the Board is BC’s independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board provides British Columbians with objective and independent assessments of the state of forest planning and practices in the province, compliance with the 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.