Watershed Assessment in the Glade Community Watershed
In October 2018, the Board received a complaint about planned logging in the Glade community watershed, near Castlegar, BC. The Glade Watershed Protection Society was concerned that a watershed assessment was incomplete, outdated, and inconsistent with forest stewardship plan strategies to meet community watershed objectives.
The Board considered whether the watershed assessment is consistent with the expected professional standards, and whether the licensees complied with legal requirements in the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA).
Watershed Assessment in the Glade Community Watershed
Closing Letter – Harvesting in Caribou Migration Corridor in the Anzac Drainage
Closing Letter – Harvesting in Caribou Migration Corridor in the Anzac Drainage
On November 28, 2019, the Forest Practices Board received a complaint from a Prince George resident that Canadian Forest Products Ltd. (Canfor) is harvesting within a caribou corridor in the Anzac drainage.
The Board determined that Canfor’s development in the Anzac caribou corridors is consistent with the general wildlife measures.
Planning for Old Forest on TFL 47 – East Thurlow Island
Planning for Old Forest on TFL 47 – East Thurlow Island
In February 2018, the Forest Practices Board received a complaint from residents of East Thurlow Island about forest planning for old forest and red- and blue-listed plant communities in the Great Bear Rainforest. The complainants believed that TimberWest’s planning did not meet the intent of the Great Bear Rainforest Order, and that it favored the harvest of timber over the conservation of ecological integrity.
The Board concludes TimberWest is meeting the intent of the Order on East Thurlow Island.
Conservation of Black Bear Dens on Vancouver Island
A professional biologist with black bear expertise submitted a complaint on April 8, 2019, asserting that black bear dens in large diameter, old trees are being lost to harvesting old growth forests on Vancouver Island. The complainant is concerned that the declining availability of large trees will eventually affect population numbers.
The Board concluded that there is uncertainty in terms of the population status of black bears on Vancouver Island.
Conservation of Black Bear Dens on Vancouver Island
Closing Letter – Impacts of Forestry Activities on Mushroom Habitat near Kitwanga
On September 9, 2019, the Forest Practices Board received a complaint from a resident of Kitwanga. The complainant is concerned that planned harvesting of BC Timber Sales (BCTS) timber sale license A52734 Block 001 will damage valuable mushroom habitat. The complaint considered BCTS’s legal obligations under the Forest and Range Practices Act and investigated whether public consultation was appropriate.
The Forest Practices Board determined that the approach taken by BCTS to manage pine mushroom habitat met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act. BCTS’s consultation efforts were also appropriate.
