These are turbulent times in forest management in BC. Internal factors, such as declining timber supply, and external factors, such as the softwood lumber agreement and commodity prices, are creating stresses for both the forest sector and communities that have not been seen since the 2009 recession. At the time of this newsletter, we are […]
VICTORIA – A followup report on implementing recommendations to improve forest stewardship plans has found some improvement in the quality of plans but concludes the recommendations have not yet been fully implemented. In August 2015, the board published a special investigation report called Forest Stewardship Plans: Are They Meeting Expectations? That investigation found the quality […]
During development of British Columbia’s Forest Practices Code (the Code), there was public concern about whether forest companies would follow the Code and whether government would enforce it. As a result, the provincial government created the Forest Practices Board to act as an independent watchdog. In order to audit the appropriateness of government’s enforcement activities, the Board first had to […]
VICTORIA – Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, Doug Donaldson, has announced the appointment of three new members to the Forest Practices Board. The Board is pleased to welcome members Tara Marsden and Rick Monchak and new vice-chair, Bruce Larson. Bruce is a professor and FRBC Chair of Silviculture in the […]
VICTORIA – In a new report released today, the Forest Practices Board is recommending that government make a number of improvements to the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA). These improvements all have been recommended in previous board reports, but government has never implemented the recommendations. “The board believes these changes are necessary to improve stewardship of […]
VICTORIA – An investigation of forestry roads constructed on steep terrain has found mixed results. While most of the road sections examined met the legal requirements, and some were very well done, others did not adhere to professional practice guidelines and several road sections were structurally unsafe, according to a report released today. The board […]
VICTORIA – An investigation of a public complaint about management of a threatened grizzly bear population in the Kettle-Granby area has found that the B.C. government has not effectively managed the risk forestry roads pose to the bears and forestry licensees have not met the road density limits recommended by government. “Government does not have […]
The Board received a complaint from a property owner concerned that Tolko Industries Ltd.'s road construction and harvesting caused sediment to enter Malakwa Creek and damage his water system. The complainant was also concerned that Tolko's forestry activities damaged riparian areas and water courses. Tolko adequately addressed the risks of its activities and acted quickly […]
The Board conducts its work throughout British Columbia, and we respectfully acknowledge the territories of the many Indigenous Peoples who have lived on these lands since time immemorial.
