FORESTRY AUDIT SUMMARY
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What is this audit about?
The Board carried out a full-scope compliance audit of Tahltan Nation Development Corporation’s (TNDC) First Nations Woodland Licence N3E in the Cassiar timber supply area. All harvesting, road and bridge activities and wildfire-protection work carried out between August 1, 2022, and August 16, 2024, were examined.
What did the Board find?
TNDC complied with the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act in all significant respects.
Positive practices
- Winter logging reduced soil disturbance and protected riparian areas and wildlife habitat.
- Roads and bridges were stable and properly drained, and culvert removals did not affect stream banks.
- Fuel hazard assessments met content requirements.
Areas for improvement
- Grizzly bear habitat: Three cutblocks exceeded the 250-metre opening-width limit set in the Forest Stewardship Plan.
- Road planning: Site plans were missing for four of ten new roads (3.1 km).
- Road permits: Two stretches of forest service road were used without industrial road-use permits, though safety agreements were in place.
- Wildfire assessments: 8 of 22 fire hazard assessments were completed after the six-month deadline.
Key Takeaways
These four findings are considered areas requiring improvement because each instance was of low magnitude and consequence, regarding the potential harm to safety or the environment. However, these practices should be corrected and not repeated.
- Good roads need good records: Even when roads are well built, missing site plans and permits create avoidable risk.
- Wildlife commitments must match actions: Keeping grizzly bear opening widths within agreed limits helps protect habitat.
- Timely paperwork matters: Late hazard assessments were administrative, but on-time submissions demonstrate due diligence during escalating wildfire seasons.
- Large Indigenous tenure: N3E is one of BC’s largest First Nations Woodland Licences, demonstrating Indigenous leadership in forest stewardship.
Acknowledgement
This audit took place within the territory of the Tahltan Nation. The Board acknowledges the Tahltan people, who have stewarded this land since time immemorial and maintain a deep connection to it today.
