Four woodlots near Clearwater undergo audit

VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine forest practices on four woodlots located east of Clearwater in the Thompson Rivers Resource District, during the week of Oct. 14, 2014.

The audit will examine planning, timber harvesting, road construction and maintenance, silviculture and fire prevention practices carried out by the woodlot licence holders under the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.

Two of the woodlots are located south and east of Clearwater and two are located north of Adams Lake. Auditors will examine forest practices on the ground, including how the woodlot licensees address important local values, such as visual quality along the Highway 5 corridor, outdoor recreation and hunting, and wildlife including grizzly bear and caribou.

The Thompson Rivers District was randomly selected for audit. The board then selected the four most active woodlots, each harvesting more than 13,000 cubic metres in the past two years.

Once the audit work is completed, a 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 land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.

More information can be obtained by contacting:

Kairry Nguyen
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4707 / 1 800 994-5899