Board to audit stand-level biodiversity practices in Mackenzie District
MACKENZIE – The Forest Practices Board is launching a limited-scope audit in the Mackenzie Natural Resource District to assess how licensees manage biodiversity in forest stands through the use of block reserves.
Fieldwork for the audit will begin Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, and will examine forestry activities of three licensees from Sept. 1, 2023, to Sept. 26, 2025, to evaluate compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act.
The three licensees selected for the audit are BC Timber Sales Prince George area, the McLeod Lake Mackenzie Community Forest and Conifex Timber Inc.
The Mackenzie district spans about 6.41 million hectares within B.C.'s Omineca region. The dominant geographic feature in the region is the Williston Reservoir, with most harvesting occurring along its east and west shores. The Rocky Mountain Trench bisects the district, bordered by the Omineca and Rocky Mountains.
Sixteen First Nations have overlapping territories in the area, including the Kwadacha and Tsay Keh Dene Nations and the McLeod Lake Indian Band. First Nations rely on the area for cultural practices, sustenance and spiritual well-being. Recent years have seen an increase in woodland licences and forest-industry partnerships with local Nations.
This marks the board's second audit in northern B.C. for 2025, following a similar limited-scope audit in the Coast Mountains district. In both cases, the focus remains on stand-level retention and wildlife tree retention area management, which are key to maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem resilience at the site level.
Once the audit is complete, a report will be prepared. Any party that may be adversely affected by the audit findings will have a chance to respond. The board's final report and any recommendations will be released to the public and provincial 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. Auditees are selected using a modified random sampling method without considering past performance or public complaints.
The board audits forest and range practices on public lands and the appropriateness of government enforcement. It can also make recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.
Contact:
Tanner Senko
Communications Manager
Forest Practices Board
tanner.senko@bcfpb.ca
250 889-8211 / 1 800 994-5899
