VICTORIA – An audit of forest planning, harvesting and road practices of Kenkeknem Forest Tenure Ltd., in the 100 Mile District, found that all activities met the requirements of provincial forestry legislation, according to a report released today.
“This is one of the first active First Nations Woodland Licences in the province and we were pleased to find that the company fully met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act,” said board chair Tim Ryan.
In January 2013, the Tsq’escenemc people of the Canim Lake Band were issued a First Nations woodland licence covering 21 400 hectares of land within their traditional territory. The allowable annual cut for this licence is approximately 20 000 cubic metres.
The tenure is managed by Kenkeknem Forest Tenures Ltd., a Band-owned company established to house and manage all forest tenures and forestry obligations. Kenkeknem manages approximately 24 000 cubic metres of allowable annual cut, of which the majority is within the woodland licence.
As part of the Forest Practices Board's 2014 compliance audit program, the board randomly selected the 100 Mile House Resource District as the location for a full scope compliance audit. Within the district, the board selected First Nations Woodland Licence N1I for the audit.
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.
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – An audit of forest planning, harvesting and road practices of Pebble Creek Timber Limited on Forest Licence A19218, north of Whistler, found that all activities met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act, according to a report released today.
“Pebble Creek’s timber harvesting, road construction and maintenance, and silviculture activities were all in compliance with legislation,” said board chair, Tim Ryan. “The audit did find one area of improvement related to Wildfire Act requirements to conduct fire hazard assessments after harvesting. Even though formal assessments were not done, all fire hazards were abated through the company’s standard operating procedure of piling and burning debris.”
Forest licence A19218 has operating areas in the Joffre Creek, upper Lillooet River, and Meager Creek areas. As part of the Forest Practices Board's 2014 compliance audit program, the board randomly selected the Sea to Sky Resource District as the location for a full scope compliance audit. Within the district, the board selected this forest licence for the audit.
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.
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – A report released today concludes that Burns Lake Specialty Wood complied with most requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act, but failed to comply with Wildfire Act requirements to assess and reduce fire hazards after logging.
The audit examined forest planning and practices carried out between September 2011 and October 2013, near Burns Lake. The company harvested 90,000 cubic metres of timber from eight cutblocks. Problems found included planting the incorrect type of tree seedlings in some locations, failing to carry out commitments to prevent the spread of invasive plants, and failing to assess and remove slash and debris that pose fire hazards.
“What’s concerning to the board is that the company did not meet its obligations to assess and reduce fire hazards under the Wildfire Act,” said board chair Tim Ryan. “Combine that with the fact they are operating in forests heavily damaged by mountain pine beetle, and the increased fire risk that resulted is a significant problem.”
“All forest licence holders have obligations to comply with provincial forestry legislation. There are training materials and guidance documents readily available to assist them with understanding the obligations that come with the right to harvest trees on public land,” Ryan added.
The board acknowledges that the company has abated the fire hazards on most of the cutblocks since the audit and is requesting that they report to the board on the completion of the remainder of the abatement obligations by the end of January.
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.
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – Cabinet has appointed three members to the Forest Practices Board. Marlene Machmer, R.P.Bio and Angeline Nyce, RPF, were appointed for two-year terms, and current board member Bill Dumont, RPF, was reappointed for a two-year term.
“I am very pleased to see Bill Dumont reappointed, and I welcome Marlene Machmer and Angeline Nyce to the board,” said board chair, Tim Ryan. “Bill has made a valued contribution to the board during his past term, and I look forward to two more years working with him. Both Marlene and Angeline bring new backgrounds and perspectives to the board table as we deliberate on forest and range practices in B.C.”
Machmer is a resident of Nelson, B.C., where she owns a consulting firm. She is an ecologist with 25 years experience in environmental impact assessment, management, inventory, restoration and stewardship in B.C. She has done work for the forest, mining and power industries, as well as government and First Nations.
Nyce owns her own law firm and currently practises in the areas of Natural Resources and Aboriginal Law, focusing on sustainable development and land use issues, and she advises on a range of business law matters. She is also a registered professional forester and has worked for industry in forest planning, operations and silviculture. Nyce grew up in the Village of Gitwinksihlkw and lives in North Vancouver.
Dumont has worked in the forest sector in B.C. and internationally for more than 40 years, 27 for Western Forest Products including as chief forester. He was also chief executive officer of Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Malaysia). He is currently a consultant and lives in Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island.
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.
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – An audit of forest planning, harvesting and road practices in the Terrace Community Forest found that all activities met the requirements of provincial forestry legislation, according to a report released today.
“The community forest has operations in three areas close to the City of Terrace,” said board chair, Tim Ryan. “They harvested about 54,000 cubic metres of timber during the two-year audit period, most of which was second growth stands damaged by spruce-leader weevil.”
“We are pleased to report that the Terrace Community Forest Limited Partnership fully met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.”
As part of the Forest Practices Board's 2014 compliance audit program, the board randomly selected the Coast Mountain Resource District as the location for a full scope compliance audit. Within the district, the board selected Community Forest Licence K1X for the audit.
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.
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – An audit of forest planning, harvesting and road practices at Red Mountain Ski Resort found that the resort met the requirements of provincial forestry legislation, according to a report released today.
“The board provides oversight for all types and sizes of forest licences,” said board chair, Tim Ryan. “In this case, the resort harvested 52 000 cubic metres of timber and constructed 2 kilometres of road as part of a ski hill expansion plan, taking into account forest health, water quality and visual quality concerns.”
“We were pleased to find that Red Mountain Resort fully met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.”
Established in 1912, Red Mountain Resort is part of a controlled recreation area and is located just north of Rossland, B.C. The resort lies within the watershed that supplies the community’s drinking water.
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.
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – A complaint about the visual impacts of logging on Haida Gwaii was upheld in a Forest Practices Board report released today. The logging in question took place in 2009 on the north side of Skidegate Channel, west of Queen Charlotte City, in a significant travel corridor for tourists, fishermen and residents of Haida Gwaii.
“In the Board’s opinion, a failure to meet government objectives for visual quality arose due to the licensee’s reliance on unsound professional assessments and refusal to engage in dialogue with government officials and forest professionals who expressed concerns on several occasions,’” said board chair Tim Ryan.
The Board found that professional visual impact assessments done for Teal Cedar Products Ltd. underestimated the degree of alteration to the viewscape. Even though staff of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Queen Charlotte City both raised concerns about the potential impacts of the logging before it took place, the company would not discuss the concerns nor reconsider the accuracy of the assessments before it proceeded to log.
The report also criticizes government for failing to take enforcement action against the licensee for not meeting legal requirements to protect visual quality.
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 complaints about forest and range practices on public lands and the appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will examine forest practices on four woodlots located east of Clearwater in the Thompson Rivers Resource District, during the week of Oct. 14, 2014.
The audit will examine planning, timber harvesting, road construction and maintenance, silviculture and fire prevention practices carried out by the woodlot licence holders under the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
Two of the woodlots are located south and east of Clearwater and two are located north of Adams Lake. Auditors will examine forest practices on the ground, including how the woodlot licensees address important local values, such as visual quality along the Highway 5 corridor, outdoor recreation and hunting, and wildlife including grizzly bear and caribou.
The Thompson Rivers District was randomly selected for audit. The board then selected the four most active woodlots, each harvesting more than 13,000 cubic metres in the past two years.
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 will then 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.
Kairry Nguyen
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4707 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – An audit of Carrier Lumber Ltd.’s forestry activities on forest licence A18158, southeast of Prince George, found compliance with B.C.’s forestry legislation, according to a report released today.
“We are pleased to see that Carrier carried out good forest practices and fully met the requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act,” said Tim Ryan, board chair.
Auditors examined operational planning, timber harvesting, road construction, deactivation and maintenance, silviculture and fire protection activities carried out by Carrier Lumber between June 2012 and June 2014.
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.
Darlene Oman
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4705 / 1 800 994-5899
VICTORIA – The Forest Practices Board will audit four Range Act agreements and a First Nations woodland licence in the 100 Mile House resource district during the weeks of Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, 2014.
Auditors will look at three grazing licences and one hay-cutting licence for compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA). In addition, Kenkeknem Forest Tenures Ltd.’s woodland licence will be audited for operational planning, harvesting, roads, silviculture and protection practices under FRPA and the Wildfire Act.
Kenkeknem’s licence is one of only two First Nations woodland licences in the province, and is the first such licence audited by the board.
The audit area is located about 30 kilometres northeast of 100 Mile House, with Canim Lake to the north and Buffalo Creek to the south.
Once the audit work is complete, 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 will then 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.
Helen Davies
Communications
Forest Practices Board
Phone: 250 213-4708 / 1 800 994-5899
