The Nisga’a final agreement requires government to bring the forest lands on Nisga’a territory up to agreed-upon standards. The agreement also requires the Forest Practices Board to audit forest planning and practices on Nisga’a lands for the five-year period ending in May 2005.

The fifth audit began in 2005 and was completed in early 2007. The audit examined the planning and practices of West Fraser Mills Limited, Sim Gan Forest Corporation, New Skeena Forest Products, BC Timber Sales and the obligations of the Kalum district manager.

Under the Nisga’a Final Agreement (the Agreement), in May 2000 the Nisga’a Nation was formally granted rights to the Nisga’a lands, an area of approximately 200,000 hectares in and around the Nass Valley, 100 kilometres northwest of Terrace.

The fourth compliance audit on Nisga’a Lands reported that the provincial government needs to act promptly to ensure the forest obligation under the Nisga’a treaty is fulfilled. The other auditees—Skeen Cellulose Inc.; Sim Gan Forest Corporation; West Fraser Mills Ltd.; BC Timber Sales, Skeena Business Area; and the Kalum Forest District Manager— complied with forest practices legislation and the Nisga’a Treaty agreement.

This compliance audit is the third of five annual audits of compliance with the Forest Practices Code as well as forestry-related requirements of the Nisga’a Final Agreement, and the second audit of government enforcement on Nisga’a lands.

As part of its 2002 audit program, the Forest Practices Board audited forest planning and practices on Nisga’a lands. This audit is the second of five annual audits of compliance with the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act and related regulations (the Code) as well as the forestry-related requirements of the Nisga’a Final Agreement (the Agreement). The Agreement requires the Forest Practices Board to perform compliance audits of forest agreements and licences on Nisga’a lands in each year of a defined five-year transition period that ends on May 10, 2005.