Victoria - Today the Forest Practices Board released the results of its investigation into a complaint about logging in Little Cayuse Creek watershed, near Castlegar, BC.

A local resident was concerned about the impact that proposed logging would have on Little Cayuse Creek, which provides his domestic water supply. He complained to the Forest Practices Board because the district manager approved logging in the watershed without first completing the further studies recommended by a Code guidebook.

As a result of its investigation, the Board found that the district manager's decision to allow logging in the watershed met Forest Practices Code requirements. The Board also found the district manager's conclusion that the proposed logging activity would not affect water quality in Little Cayuse Creek was reasonable.

The Board further concluded that the district manager had access to enough reliable information upon which to base his decision. The proposed logging was consistent with the recommendations of the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks and a review by the Nelson Forest Region.

"The complainant's concerns were understandable given the history of poor logging practices by various licensees in this watershed. He also did not get a full response to his questions from the district manager," said Keith Moore, Chair of the Forest Practices Board. "However, after considering all of the evidence, the Board concluded that the approval of the two cutblocks in the watershed complied with Code requirements, and that the district manager's decision was based on consideration of sufficient evidence."

In 1996, Pope and Talbot Ltd., the current licensee, conducted an assessment following the Interior Watershed Assessment Procedure Guidebook to plan for future watershed restoration work. This assessment recommended that any subsequent logging activity should be preceded by further study to weigh the potential impact in this watershed.

As a result, the complainant asked for all logging to be deferred until these assessments were completed and operational plans were amended to incorporate the recommendations of the analysis. The district manager made the decision to approve logging in two cutblocks in the watershed without further study.

Little Cayuse Creek watershed covers 2650 hectares and drains into Lower Arrow Lake. Large scale, commercial logging of the watershed began in the 1960's. Compared to today's standards, the rate of cut was high and forest practices were poor. The effects of this are still apparent today.

Created in 1995, the Forest Practices Board is BC's independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board provides British Columbians with objective and independent assessments of the state of forest planning and practices in the province, compliance with the Code, and the achievement of its intent. The Board's main roles are: auditing forest practices, undertaking investigations in response to public complaints, undertaking special investigations of any Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals and providing reports on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

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Victoria - Today, the Forest Practices Board released the results of its investigations of two complaints about logging activities in a rural area near Homesite Creek, approximately 20 kilometres from Sechelt. Local residents were opposed to the logging, and the site was the subject of protests when operations began in January 1998.

One complaint asserted that the logging company did not have required fire-fighting equipment at the site during high fire hazard conditions. The Board found that the company met Code requirements.

The second complaint alleged that the approved logging plans for the area were inadequate and the logging contractor contravened the Forest Practices Code during operations. The Board found that most of the Ministry of Forest's planning and enforcement and most of the licensee's practices on the timber sale met Forest Practices Code requirements. However, operations took place when they were not supposed to and some road practices did not meet Code requirements. The Ministry of Forests failed to identify the non-compliance, despite carrying out a number of inspections.

The Board had received an earlier complaint, involving the same site, in March 1997. It was investigated and a final report was released in February 1998. That complaint involved the adequacy of the silviculture prescription for the site, which the Board found to be acceptable. "These three complaints raised technical issues with Code compliance, but our investigations revealed a larger underlying issue," said Board Chair, Keith Moore. "When logging operations are planned near people's homes, there is a need for open communication, good planning and sound practices, which did not happen in this case. There was poor communication between the Ministry of Forests, local government and local residents about what was planned for this site, and a lack of consideration of innovative harvesting methods." Moore added, "The forest service and licensees need to demonstrate more care and attention when carrying out operations in rural neighborhoods. This situation led to these complaints and has diminished the public's confidence in forest management, particularly under the Small Business Forest Enterprise Program."

Many local residents were under the impression that the regional district or the provincial government planned to make the area into a park. That never happened and, instead, the Ministry of Forests made the site available for harvesting under the Small Business Forest Enterprise Program. The lack of communication about plans for the site led to both the protests by local residents, and the complaints that were made to the Board.

The Board recommends that district staff devote sufficient time to carefully review all operational plans, and be more diligent during field inspection to identify non-compliance with the Code. The Board also recommends that the Ministry of Forests be proactive in its communications with the public when forestry operations are planned in rural neighborhoods.

Created in 1995, the Forest Practices Board is BC's independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board provides British Columbians with objective and independent assessments of the state of forest planning and practices in the province, compliance with the Code, and the achievement of its intent.

The Board's main roles are: auditing forest practices, undertaking investigations in response to public complaints, undertaking special investigations of any Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals and providing reports on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

Victoria - Today, the Chair of the BC Forest Practices Board is speaking in San Francisco at a forum on Sourcing Environmentally Responsible Forest Products. The event will be attended by executives of some large US corporations, including Xerox, Starbucks and Levi Strauss. Keith Moore was invited to speak at this event to give the Board's assessment of current forestry practices in the province, and to address issues about obtaining environmentally responsible products.

"This event is a sign of the growing international interest in how we manage our forests in BC," said Moore. "Major US companies want to ensure that they are buying environmentally responsible products. That puts more pressure on BC to maintain sound forest practices and a strong and effective Forest Practices Code, if we wish to continue to have access to those markets."

The event was organized by Business for Social Responsibility in response to a December 1998 advertisement in the New York Times that claimed a number of major companies were no longer going to buy BC forest products. The event brings together company representatives, environmental groups, and others with an interest in forest certification and forestry operations. Other BC organizations that will be presenting to the forum are MacMillan Bloedel, the Forest Alliance and the Coastal Rainforest Coalition.

Moore will tell the forum that BC has a comprehensive Forest Practices Code that establishes standards that operations must meet. "Forest practices in BC have improved significantly as a result of the Code, but there is still a need for further improvement. There is also a need for better plans to ensure that important resource values are protected," said Moore.

Business for Social Responsibility is a US national association of businesses working cooperatively to change the way business is done. It seeks to implement a social and environmental bottom line along with the traditional financial bottom line.

The Forest Practices Code regulates all aspects of operational forestry and range management on Crown Lands and some private lands in the province-that means all aspects of logging, road construction and maintenance, road deactivation, planting and other silviculture practices, fire protection, and protection of the environment and recreational values related to those practices. The Code addresses a wide variety of land uses and social values-watershed protection, wildlife, recreation and cultural and historical values.

Created in 1995, the Forest Practices Board is BC's independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board provides British Columbians with objective and independent assessments of the state of forest planning and practices in the province, compliance with the Code, and the achievement of its intent. The Board's main roles are: auditing forest practices, undertaking investigations in response to public complaints, undertaking special investigations of any Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals, and providing reports on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

Victoria - The Forest Practices Board today released the results of its investigation into a complaint about road maintenance on Hillcrest Forest Service Road near Lake Cowichan. A resident complained that road maintenance was inadequate, resulting in unsafe conditions for those living on the road.

The investigation found that MacMillan Bloedel did not comply with Code requirements. This occurred because other companies using the road failed to conduct surface maintenance in accordance with their agreements with MacMillan Bloedel. MacMillan Bloedel was responsible for ensuring the maintenance was done, as part of its road permit from the forest district.

The South Island Forest District did comply with Code requirements. District staff issued instructions which led to surface maintenance on Hillcrest Road, and the district fixed structural problems. The resident who filed the complaint was satisfied that this work addressed the problems he was concerned about.

"This investigation was about a specific problem on Hillcrest Road that was fixed, but it revealed a larger issue about maintenance of forest service roads around the province," said Keith Moore, Board Chair.

The Forest Practices Code requires that forest service roads be maintained to a standard that ensures that they are safe for industrial traffic. There is no requirement to ensure that forest service roads which provide access to parks, recreational areas and residences are safe and passable for public traffic. Funding for maintenance has also been dramatically reduced in recent years.

The report concludes that the government needs to ensure that adequate maintenance is provided on publicly travelled forest service roads. The Board recommends that government consider several options to ensure that publicly travelled forest service are maintained for the safety of all users.

These options include:

identifying forest service roads that should be maintained at a level that ensures the safety of all users,
providing for equitable sharing of the cost of maintaining such roads,
ensuring that local government consider access maintenance requirements in land use zoning so that builders and developers anticipate that access and access maintenance are not guaranteed if currently provided by a forest service road, and
ensuring that a process for identifying the responsibility for access road maintenance is initiated at the time of the establishment of parks.
Hillcrest Road provides access to several timber sales under the Small Business Forest Enterprise Program. It is used by MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. and several other companies to access logging operations on private land. Pacific Forest Products is one of the most active users. The road also provides access to four residences, the Chemainus River Provincial Park and is a popular route for trail bikes and recreational four-wheel drive vehicles. Like many older forest service roads on Vancouver Island, it has deteriorated significantly over many years.

As is common practice on many forest service roads, the Ministry of Forests delegated responsibility for surface maintenance to the "primary user", MacMillan Bloedel, even though the company had not been active on the road for many years. MacMillan Bloedel in turn made contractual arrangements with the other holders of road use permits. Under these contracts, "secondary users" agreed to maintain the road during the period of use, but did not do so.

Created in 1995, the Forest Practices Board is BC's independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board provides British Columbians with objective and independent assessments of the state of forest planning and practices in the province, compliance with the Code, and the achievement of its intent. The Board's main roles are: auditing forest practices, undertaking investigations in response to public complaints, undertaking special investigations of any Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals and providing reports on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

Victoria - Mark Haddock from Port Moody, BC is among four new members appointed by the government to a three-year term with the Forest Practices Board. Other new members include Ingrid Davis, from Merritt; Fred Parker, from Castlegar; and Liz Osborn from Telkwa, near Smithers. They join existing Board Chair, Keith Moore, and members John Cuthbert, Klaus Offermann and Frances Vyse.

"I am very pleased with the new appointments to the Board," said Chair, Keith Moore. "These individuals come from communities in different parts of the province and bring new perspectives that complement those of our present Board members. This will add to the diversity of views and experience that we bring to our work."

Mark Haddock is a lawyer with significant experience in the area of forest policy and law. He has worked with organizations such as the West Coast Environmental Law Association and the Sierra Legal Defence Fund. He also served as the environmental representative on the Forest Sector Strategy Committee. Prior to that, Haddock worked for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Ministry of Forests and articled with the Federal Department of Justice.

Created in 1995, the Board is BC's independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board provides British Columbians with objective and independent assessments of the state of forest planning and practices in the province, compliance with the Code, and the achievement of its intent.

The Board's main roles are: auditing forest practices, undertaking investigations in response to public complaints, undertaking special investigations of any Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals, and providing reports on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

Information about the Forest Practices Board and its activities is available from the Board office and on the Internet.

Victoria - Liz Osborn from Telkwa, near Smithers BC, is among four new members appointed by the government to a three-year term with the Forest Practices Board. Other new members include Ingrid Davis, from Merritt; Fred Parker, from Castlegar; and Mark Haddock from Port Moody. They join existing Board Chair, Keith Moore, and members John Cuthbert, Klaus Offermann and Frances Vyse.

"I am very pleased with the new appointments to the Board," said Chair, Keith Moore. "These individuals come from communities in different parts of the province and will bring new perspectives that complement those of our present Board members. This will add to the diversity of views and experience that we bring to our work."

Liz Osborn has a Masters degree in Natural Resources Management from Simon Fraser University and a MSc from the Forestry and Resource Management Department at the University of California Berkeley. She has extensive experience in natural resources policy, planning and research, and has worked overseas with organizations such as the Canadian International Development Agency and CUSO. Osborn also served as Communications and Policy Co-ordinator and as Executive Director of the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC.

Created in 1995, the Board is BC's independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board provides British Columbians with objective and independent assessments of the state of forest planning and practices in the province, compliance with the Code, and the achievement of its intent.

The Board's main roles are: auditing forest practices, undertaking investigations in response to public complaints, undertaking special investigations of any Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals, and providing reports on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

Information about the Forest Practices Board and its activities is available from the Board office and on the Internet.

Victoria - Four new members were appointed to the Forest Practices Board by the government on March 10th. Ingrid Davis, Mark Haddock, Liz Osborn and Fred Parker were appointed to the Board for three-year terms. They join existing Board Chair, Keith Moore, and members John Cuthbert, Klaus Offermann and Frances Vyse.

"I am very pleased with the new appointments to the Board," said Chair, Keith Moore. "These individuals come from communities in different parts of the province and will bring new perspectives that complement those of our present Board members. This will add to the diversity of views and experience that we bring to our work."

Ingrid Davis has extensive experience in silviculture practices and recently served as chair of a local resource use planning committee. Davis served in several forest regions with the Ministry of Forests before becoming an independent consultant in 1990. As a consultant she has worked with forest industry, provincial and federal forestry departments and private landholders. Ingrid Davis resides in Merritt, BC.

Mark Haddock has significant experience in the area of forest policy and law. He has worked with organizations such as the West Coast Environmental Law Association and the Sierra Legal Defence Fund. He also served as the environmental representative on the Forest Sector Strategy Committee. Prior to that, Haddock worked for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Ministry of Forests and articled with the Federal Department of Justice. Mark Haddock is a lawyer and resides in Port Moody, BC.

Liz Osborn has a Masters degree in Natural Resources Management at Simon Fraser University and a MSc from the Forestry and Resource Management Department at the University of California Berkeley. She has extensive experience in natural resources policy, planning and research and has worked overseas with organizations such as the Canadian International Development Agency and CUSO. Osborn also served as Communications and Policy Co-ordinator and as Executive Director of the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC. Liz Osborn resides in Telkwa, BC near Smithers.

Fred Parker is a forester with extensive experience in the forest industry in the BC interior. He worked as a manager with the Interior Lumber Manufacturers' Association and currently works as a forestry consultant. Parker currently serves as a director of the Columbia Basin Trust. Fred Parker resides in Castlegar, BC.

Board member Frances Vyse will be stepping down when her appointment expires in April.

John Cuthbert was recently re-appointed to the Board for an additional two year term in which he will serve as Vice Chair. "John's contribution to the Board has been significant and we are very pleased that he will continue his work with the Board in the role of Vice Chair," said Moore. Cuthbert retired after a long distinguished career with the Ministry of Forests, including nine years as Chief Forester for the province. He is a resident of Summerland and was first appointed to the Board in 1997.

Created in 1995, the Board is BC's independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board provides British Columbians with objective and independent assessments of the state of forest planning and practices in the province, compliance with the Code, and the achievement of its intent.

The Board's main roles are: auditing forest practices, undertaking investigations in response to public complaints, undertaking special investigations of any Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals and providing reports on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

Information about the Forest Practices Board and its activities is available from the Board office and on the Internet.

Victoria - The Forest Practices Board has found that several factors combined to create serious problems in forestry planning in the Queen Charlotte Islands Forest District during an eight month period following the June 1995 implementation of the Forest Practices Code. The finding is part of a special investigation report released by the Board today.

"Balancing Code requirements for conservation of forest resources with continuity of timber supply called for unusual measures, given the extraordinary circumstances in the district at the time," said Cindy Pearce, Board vice-chair during the investigation.

The unusual measures included planning delays, accelerated harvesting schedules, and frequent amendments to plans. "These breakdowns in the planning process made it difficult for the Ministry of Environment, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and the Council of the Haida Nation to provide informed comment to the Ministry of Forests on forest development plans," said Pearce.

A number of factors contributed to the problems, including uncertainty about new Code requirements, a shortage of staff and specialists in the district, and a shortage of approved cutting permits that resulted in logging shutdowns and unemployment. MacMillan Bloedel, and to a lesser extent, the Small Business Forest Enterprise Program had the most serious problems meeting Code planning requirements.

"There is still some uncertainty about the current state of forest development planning in the Queen Charlotte Islands and the Board has asked for public clarification of the current situation," said Pearce. "The Board also recommended the district clarify its referral process, which provides government agencies, the Haida and the public with opportunities to review plans, to be consistent with the Code." A number of other recommendations are included in the Board's report.

The Board launched the special investigation following a complaint from the Council of the Haida Nation about the state of operational planning in the Queen Charlotte Islands Forest District. In the report, the Board also concludes that planning disruptions made it difficult for the Haida Nation to ensure their interests were adequately protected.

The investigation focused on the activities of the four major agreement holders in the Queen Charlotte Islands Forest District, the Small Business Forest Enterprise Program operated by the Ministry of Forests, and the government agencies responsible for reviewing and approving plans. The Board considered whether the process for submission, review and approval of cutblocks, between June 15, 1995 and February 15, 1996, met Code requirements.

Created in 1995, the Forest Practices Board is BC's independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board provides British Columbians with objective and independent assessments of the state of forest planning and practices in the province, compliance with the Code, and the achievement of its intent. The Board's main roles are: auditing forest practices, undertaking investigations in response to public complaints, undertaking special investigations of any Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals, and providing reports on Board activities, findings and recommendations.

Victoria - John Cuthbert was re-appointed to the Forest Practices Board by the government on Thursday, February 18th. Cuthbert is a forester with a long distinguished career with the Ministry of Forests, including nine years as Chief Forester for the province. He is a resident of Summerland and was first appointed to the Board in 1997. Cuthbert will serve as Vice-Chair and his term with the Board has been extended until April 30, 2001.

"I am very pleased to be continuing my work with the Board. I feel that the Board has made significant progress in carrying out its mandate. We are now beginning to produce substantial results in audits, investigations and other work," said Cuthbert.

With Cindy Pearce, Jack Toovey and Frances Vyse finishing up their terms with the Board, current member Klaus Offermann and Board Chair Keith Moore, await the upcoming appointment of new members. "John Cuthbert has been a real asset to the Board. We are happy to receive confirmation of his re-appointment and are looking forward to continuing our work with John as our Vice-Chair," said Moore.

Created in 1995, the Board is BC's independent watchdog for sound forest practices. The Board provides British Columbians with objective and independent assessments of the state of forest planning and practices in the province, compliance with the Code, and the achievement of its intent. The Board's main roles are: auditing forest practices, undertaking investigations in response to public complaints, undertaking special investigations of any Code related forestry issues, participating in administrative reviews and appeals and providing reports on Board activities, findings and recommendations. Information about the Forest Practices Board and its activities is available from the Board office and on the Internet.

Victoria - BC's independent watchdog for sound forest practices welcomes the government's announcement of the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy. "The Identified Wildlife Management Strategy is one of the important pieces of the Forest Practices Code that we had identified as missing. The government's announcement is a step in the right direction," said Forest Practices Board Chair Keith Moore.

"We urge the government to proceed quickly to designate wildlife habitat areas. These will protect those threatened and endangered species identified in the Strategy," said Moore.

The Board's audits and investigations are finding a fairly high level of compliance with the Code. The Code has resulted in improved forest practices. However, the Board has identified some important pieces of the Code related to wildlife and biodiversity that are not yet in place. Today's announcement is an important first step in addressing one of these missing pieces.

Several other measures to protect wildlife and biodiversity have been identified as missing by the Board. "Government has to implement these measures as well, if the Code's objective of protecting wildlife species and biodiversity is going to be achieved," said Moore.

The lack of designated landscape units in most of the province means that forest development plans are tending to automatically default to "low biodiversity" and are not protecting areas with important biodiversity values. Without designated landscape units, the Biodiversity Guidebook can not be fully implemented and the Code's objectives for protecting biodiversity and wildlife habitat can not be achieved.

Regional Land Use Plans and Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMPs) need to be implemented, through designation of Resource Management Zones and Landscape Units under the Code, to ensure habitat values are protected across the landscape, particularly for species such as mountain caribou. Otherwise, forest development plans do not have to address the objectives set in those land use plans.

The need to identify and designate ungulate winter ranges to ensure forest development plans include measures to protect winter range for species such as deer and moose.

Guidelines for coarse woody debris to protect a wide range of organisms, ranging from soil micro-organisms to weasels and other small animals, have yet to be developed or implemented.

"This is not about implementing new or additional requirements. It is about implementing measures that are already provided for in the Code, but are not yet in place," said Moore. " BC needs to complete the implementation of these missing pieces of the Code if we are going to demonstrate to the public and to international markets that we are protecting wildlife and biodiversity values in our forests."

The Forest Practices Board provides the public with objective and independent assessments of the state of forest planning and practices in the province, compliance with the Code, and the achievement of its intent. The Board has completed 22 audits of forest practices around the province. Sixteen of those have been concluded and published. The Board has completed 18 complaint investigations and released reports on its findings. The Board has also completed an investigation of forest planning and practices near 355 streams in coastal BC. The Board has made a number of recommendations for improvement to forest planning and practices in these reports. These and other Board reports are available from the Board office and on the Internet.