New Members Appointed to the Board

VICTORIA – Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Doug Donaldson, has announced the appointment of three new members to the Forest Practices Board. The Board is pleased to welcome members Tara Marsden and Rick Monchak and new vice-chair, Bruce Larson.

Bruce is a professor and FRBC Chair of Silviculture in the UBC Faculty of Forestry. His expertise and insight on future forests and foresters will be appreciated.

Tara has been involved in resource governance and management issues across northern BC, and is currently the only board member from the north. A member of the Gitanyow First Nation, Tara brings an indigenous perspective to the issues the Board deals with.

Finally, the Board welcomes Rick, recently retired after 41 years with Timberwest. Rick brings his wealth of experience with field operations and coastal forestry issues to the Board.

All three appointees complement the current experience on the Board and together they ensure the many diverse points of view across the public spectrum are considered in Board deliberations.

The new appointees join current board members Norma Wilson, Marlene Machmer and Ken Higginbotham. The selection process for a Chair of the Board is ongoing.

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 and appropriateness of government enforcement on public lands, investigates public complaints and current forestry issues, participates in administrative appeals and makes recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.

More information can be obtained by contacting:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899