Victoria – Liz Osborn from Telkwa, near Smithers BC, is among four new members appointed by the government to a three-year term with the Forest Practices Board. Other new members include Ingrid Davis, from Merritt; Fred Parker, from Castlegar; and Mark Haddock from Port Moody. They join existing Board Chair, Keith Moore, and members John Cuthbert, Klaus Offermann and Frances Vyse.

“I am very pleased with the new appointments to the Board,” said Chair, Keith Moore. “These individuals come from communities in different parts of the province and will bring new perspectives that complement those of our present Board members. This will add to the diversity of views and experience that we bring to our work.”

Liz Osborn has a Masters degree in Natural Resources Management from Simon Fraser University and a MSc from the Forestry and Resource Management Department at the University of California Berkeley. She has extensive experience in natural resources policy, planning and research, and has worked overseas with organizations such as the Canadian International Development Agency and CUSO. Osborn also served as Communications and Policy Co-ordinator and as Executive Director of the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC.

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.

Information about the Forest Practices Board and its activities is available from the Board office and on the Internet.