Was marbled murrelet habitat adequately protected in the Brand Valley?

On July 26, 1999, the Board received a request for an administrative review of the determination to approve the South Island Forest District’s 1999-2001 Small Business Forest Enterprise Program (SBFEP) forest development plan (FDP) for the Brand operating area, near Barkley Sound on southwestern Vancouver Island. The Sierra Legal Defense Fund made the request on behalf of the Sierra Club of British Columbia. The Board decided it could not request a review. Instead, the Board decided, at the request of the complainant, to investigate the matter as a complaint in July 2000.

The complainant believes it was unreasonable for the district manager to be satisfied that the FDP adequately manages and conserves marbled murrelet. The complainant asserted that the district manager’s failure to ensure that the plan adequately manages and conserves marbled murrelet has placed the species in jeopardy.