“The BCTS program and timber sale licence holders did a good job,” said board chair Tim Ryan. “Auditors did find one cutblock where a timber sale licence holder did not deactivate a winter road and natural drainage patterns were interrupted, but all other activities fully met the requirements of forest practices legislation.”
The audit fieldwork took place from June 10-14, 2013. The audit covers harvesting in 35 cutblocks — mostly to salvage blowdown from a major storm in 2010 — construction of 58 kilometres of new road and maintenance of over 1,000 kilometres of road.
The Coast Mountain Resource District includes Prince Rupert, Terrace, Kitimat, Stewart, New Aiyansh and Port Edward, as well as several villages. The majority of the forestry operations examined were in the Kalum timber supply area.
Due to its remote location and steep terrain, operating in this district can be challenging. There are also numerous natural resource interests in the area, including outdoor recreation, guide-outfitting, trapping, tourism and mining.
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.
