VICTORIA – An investigation of forest stewardship plans, the primary plan governing forest activities on public land, concludes that most of these plans do not meet the public’s needs, are not enforceable by government and provide little in the way of innovative forest management.
“The board previously looked at forest stewardship plans in 2006 and found numerous problems, so we wanted to see if they had improved since then,” said board chair Tim Ryan. “Unfortunately, we found there has been no improvement in that time.”
The investigation looked at a sample of 43 forest stewardship plans from all regions of the province, prepared by a variety of tenure holders, from major corporations to small communities. Forest practices on the ground were not examined.
In order to gain government approval, the plans are supposed to contain measurable and verifiable results and strategies and be consistent with legally established government objectives for forest values. The investigation found that most of the plans contain results or strategies that do not demonstrate consistency with objectives, and that all have significant problems with measurability or verifiability. Many of the plans cover vast and overlapping areas of the province, and were written using legal language that makes them very difficult for public understanding or review.
“We are recommending that government not renew or approve any forest stewardship plans that don’t meet the standards set out in the Forest and Range Practices Act,” said Ryan. “We also recommend that the public consultation process be improved and that professionals who prepare forest stewardship plans, and officials who approve them, are apprised of their responsibilities regarding these standards.”
Forest stewardship plans are the only operational plan that must be made available for public review and approved by government. Once approved, a plan is in place for 5 years, but that time period can be extended indefinitely without any further public consultation. Many of these plans have been extended once already, and a large number of the plans are due for extension or renewal in the next year.
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 can investigate and report on current forestry and range issues and make 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
VICTORIA – The board will audit the forest practices of Fort St. James Community Forest Corporation on Community Forest Agreement (CFA) K1D and Tanizul Timber Ltd. on CFA K4B, as well as the silviculture obligations of tree farm licence 42, during the week of Aug. 17, 2015.
The auditors will examine all operational planning, harvesting, roads, silviculture, and wildfire protection practices carried out over the last two years for compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
Located near Fort St. James, CFA K1D consists of three operating areas – Witch Lake, Murray Ridge and Marie; and the CFA K4B boundaries are defined by Stuart Lake, Trembleur Lake and Tachie River.
Once the audit work is completed, a report will be prepared, and any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board’s final report and recommendations then will be released to the public and government.
Community forests are area-based tenures granted by the Province to foster local control over, and enjoyment of, the benefits offered by local forest resources in these communities.
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 on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.
More information can be obtained by contacting:
Kairry Nguyen
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4707 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – A complaint about logging of old forest on Sonora Island on B.C.’s South Coast has highlighted the importance of following the spirit and intent of ecosystem-based management (EBM).
Residents of Sonora Island complained that TimberWest Forest Corp. was logging old-growth forest and rare and endangered plant communities in the Great Bear Rainforest.
While TimberWest was found to be following the legal requirements of land use orders, the board was concerned that the company’s approach to identifying old forest and rare and endangered plant communities did not meet the spirit and intent of EBM.
“EBM is driven by, and ultimately must satisfy, local and global public concerns about forest management,” said board chair Tim Ryan. “Those licensees that prefer to stick to the letter of the law, rather than managing to the intent of EBM, may find they lose public trust and their social license to operate.”
EBM is an approach that has evolved over the past two decades to enhance stewardship of forests in the coastal regions of British Columbia by maintaining ecological integrity and conserving biodiversity, while also addressing human well-being.
The board recommends that TimberWest provide information on its future EBM management approach and that government clarify the definitions for old forest and red- and blue-listed plant communities.
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 investigates public complaints about forest and range practices on public lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make 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
VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of Western Forest Products Inc. on forest licence A19231 during the week of July 20, 2015.
The auditors will examine all operational planning, harvesting, roads, silviculture, and wildfire protection practices for compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
The audit includes all forestry activities carried out over the last two years, primarily on Nootka Island, 45 kilometres west of Gold River. Other nearby communities include Zeballos and Tahsis.
Forest licence A19231 covers approximately 116,000 hectares and has an allowable annual cut of about 300,000 cubic metres per year. The area contains a rich array of natural resources and recreational values.
Once the audit work is completed, a report will be prepared, and any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board’s final report and recommendations then will be released to the public and government.
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 on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.
More information can be obtained by contacting:
Kairry Nguyen
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4707 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA –The Forest Practices Board released its 2014-15 annual report today, which summarizes the board’s work over the past year and highlights current strategic priorities and projects underway.
Topics reported on this year range from protection of water in community watersheds to an investigation of how forestry impacts to natural range barriers are mitigated. The board also issued a report card on the Forest and Range Practices Act and how well it is working.
During 2014-15, the board published 13 audits of forestry and range operations, 7 reports on current forestry issues, 4 investigations of public complaints, and responded to 50 concerns about forest and range practices in B.C.
“It is the rolling up of all our work into an annual report that really provides the public with an independent, factual picture of how well B.C. is doing in achieving sound forest and range practices and stewardship,” said Tim Ryan, board chair. “Our report highlights that more work needs to be completed in the areas of professional reliance, forest stewardship planning, cumulative effects, the measurability of results, and the effectiveness of compliance standards.”
The annual report highlights cases where the board’s involvement directly led to improved forest practices. Board findings and recommendations in the report, Bridge Planning, Design and Construction stimulated discussion among professional associations, informed an updated guideline for forest sector road crossings and led to a new by-law that connects professional practice with use of the guidelines.
Similarly, government endorsed each of the board’s recommendations in the report Community Watersheds: From Objectives to Results on the Ground and professional associations committed to developing guidelines for ensuring more meaningful watershed assessments. The full annual report can be viewed on the board’s website: www.bcfpb.ca
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.
More information can be obtained by contacting:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine the forestry activities of Teal Cedar Products Ltd. in the Chilliwack resource district, during the week of July 6, 2015.
The audit will include all operational planning, harvesting, roads, silviculture, and wildfire protection practices carried out over the last year for compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
Auditors will be examining activities near Pitt Lake, Norrish Creek, the west side of Harrison Lake, Sowaqua Creek (north of Hope) and Mowhokam Creek (north of Boston Bar). Teal Cedar’s operating area includes 29 community watersheds, where its activities must not affect the quantity or timing of water flow, or affect water quality in a manner that impacts human health.
Once the audit work is completed, a report will be prepared, and any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board’s final report and recommendations then will be released to the public and government.
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 on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.
More information can be obtained by contacting:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of Pacific Bioenergy Timber Corp. and RPP Holdings Inc. in the Quesnel district, during the week of June 22, 2015.
The auditors will examine all operational planning, harvesting, roads, silviculture, and wildfire protection practices carried out over the last two years for compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
Pacific Bioenergy and RPP Holdings both operate near the village of Nazko, about 100 kilometres west of Quesnel. During the two-year audit period, Pacific Bioenergy harvested approximately 95,000 cubic metres of timber and RPP Holdings harvested 540,000 cubic metres of timber. Over 90% of the timber harvested was lodgepole pine.
Once the audit work is completed, a report will be prepared, and any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board’s final report and recommendations then will be released to the public and government.
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 on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.
More information can be obtained by contacting:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – A review of forest and range practice audits from 2013 and 2014 finds about half the audits had no issues and half had non-compliance with legislation or areas requiring improvement, according to a report released today. Of the problems found, one-third involved problems with wildfire prevention.
“We published 23 audit reports and 12 of those found 24 practices that either didn’t comply with provincial forestry legislation, or were not considered good practice,” said board chair Tim Ryan. “Of most concern is the trend we are seeing in problems related to the Wildfire Act and the requirements to prevent wildfires on logging sites.”
Eight of the 24 issues involved not assessing fire hazard risks, not having appropriate fire-fighting equipment on site or not abating hazards after completion of logging. On the positive side, BC Hydro fully met fire protection requirements on the Columbia Valley Transmission Line and K-Bar Resources Ltd. did a good job removing trees to reduce wildfire risk to the community of Bankier. The other 16 issues found in the audits involved bridge construction, protecting scenic viewscapes, reporting information to government, soil disturbance, and forest stewardship plans.
The audits examined large and small operations, including forest licences, tree farm licences, BC Timber Sales, woodlot licences, licences to cut, range tenures and a community forest licence. All of the reports are available on the board’s website.
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 on public lands and appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make 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
VICTORIA – In a report released today, B.C.’s Forest Practices Board warns that little progress has been made in protecting urban interface areas from catastrophic wildfire and we are all responsible. In 2010, the board issued a report and recommendations to government and communities to address the risks of wildfire in urban interface areas. This followup report finds that the work done in the past five years has not addressed the hazard in a meaningful way.
“In 2010 we said that both provincial and local governments need to support forest fuel reduction efforts and homeowners have to take responsibility and FireSmart their properties,” said board chair Tim Ryan. “Less than 10% of hazardous forest fuels have been treated – at enormous cost to government – and few property owners have taken the steps to protect themselves from wildfire.”
The 2015 wildfire season is off to an early start with the Little Bobtail Lake fire near Prince George threatening properties and the board is very concerned that British Columbians are not prepared for what could happen this summer. “Government does not have the resources to respond to every wildfire and protect every community that is at risk,” said Ryan. “The solution has to be in prevention and readiness to withstand a wildfire.”
The report acknowledges that some excellent work has been done and the Province has committed millions of dollars to the effort. But the scale of the problem is so large, and the costs of treatment so high, that it’s merely a drop in the bucket. “B.C. has been lucky it hasn’t had any catastrophic urban interface fires since Kelowna in 2003, but that has been luck and nothing more,” Ryan said. “Today, Kelowna is an example of what communities can do to protect themselves.”
The report urges the public to take personal responsibility and ask local politicians and fire departments what the risks to their community are, to support the return of prescribed fire to reduce forest fuels, and to take simple steps to FireSmart their own properties. The report also provides a number of suggestions to improve the situation.
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 investigates and reports on current forestry and range issues 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
VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of the BC Timber Sales program in the Kamloops area, during the week of May 25, 2015.
The auditors will examine all operational planning, harvesting, roads, silviculture, and wildfire protection practices for compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
The audit includes all forestry activities carried out in the last year in the North and South Thompson River watersheds, from Cache Creek in the west, to Chase in the east, and to Little Fort in the north. The topography in the district is diverse, ranging from hot, dry grasslands in the valley bottoms in the south to wet rugged mountains in the north. Ranching and recreation activities also occur in the area.
Once the audit work is completed, a report will be prepared, and any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board’s final report and recommendations then will be released to the public and government.
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 on public land, as well as appropriateness of government enforcement.
More information can be obtained by contacting:
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4708 / 1 800 994-5899
