british columbia’s forests

Ministry of Forests

A N D T H E I R M A N A G E M E N T

Brit ish Columbia’s Forests

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CONTENTS

Introduction 01

Land and People 02

Forests 05

Wildlife and Fish 07

Land Use Planning 08

Protected Areas 10

Forest Development 11

Harvest Levels 13

Forest Practices 15

Forest Practices Board 18

Revitalization Plan 19

For More Information 20

Ministry of Forests

B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A ’ S F O R E S T S A N D T H E I R M A N A G E M E N T

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introduction

B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A ’ S F O R E S T S

This document provides an overview of British Columbia’s forests and their management. It describes the

province’s forest lands, their ecological signif icance and their economic importance to the people of

B.C. It also discusses the province’s efforts to manage forests by balancing environmental interests with

economic and social considerations.

That includes cooperative land use planning, which has resulted in a significant proportion of the province

being set aside to protect ecological values and wildlife habitat. Outside of protected areas, large areas of

forest are expected to remain in their natural state. In those areas where logging is permitted, it is managed

in an attempt to conserve environmental values and address public and First Nations aboriginal interests.

Annual harvest levels are set by law for each area of the province. Comprehensive forest pract ices

regulations are in place to protect ecological values, with government enforcement as well as independent

auditing by B.C.’s forest watchdog agency.

This document describes these efforts to balance conservation and sustainable development, including

new legislation and policies that will shape the way B.C.’s forests are managed in the years ahead.


British Columbia

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L A N D A N D P E O P L E

Population: 4.1 million

Size: 95 million hectares (234 million acres)

Forest: 60 million hectares (149 million acres)

Land ownership: 95% publicly owned

Key industry: forestry

British Columbia

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Land and People

Geography

British Columbia, Canada’s western-mostprovince, covers almost 95 million hectares(234 million acres) – larger than any Europeancountry except Russia, and larger than anyU.S. state other than Alaska.

The province is characterized by abundantforests and mountainous terrain, the Pacificcoastline, plateaus, and numerous waterwaysand lakes. Forests cover roughly two-thirds ofB.C. Alpine areas make up another one-fifth ofthe province, and include the Coast Mountainsto the west and the Rocky Mountains near theeastern border. Much of the central length ofB.C. consists of a broad, dry plateau of flatlandsand rolling mountains. The coast is ruggedand rocky, with long fjords and numerous off-shore islands.

The influence of the ocean, mountains andother natural forces have produced a remarkablydiverse landscape and climate, which ranges fromthe mild wet climate of the coast, to icefieldsin alpine regions, dry deserts in south-centralB.C., and extreme cold winters in the northeast.

Ownership

The provincial government owns about 95% ofthe land base, and manages it in keeping withenvironmental, social and economic interests.Government authorizes the use of public landsfor resource activities such as logging, miningand grazing, under regulations to conserveland values. Public lands also help to conservewildlife habitat, recreation opportunities andother values.

About 5% of land is privately owned. Another1% of B.C. is owned by the Canadian govern-ment, including national parks, military landsand Indian Reserves.

People and Economy

B.C.’s population amounts to about four millionpeople. Roughly 70% live around the cities ofVancouver and Victoria in the southwest cornerof the province, and much of the remainingpopulation is centred around the southernvalleys near the United States border or alongB.C.’s major river – the Fraser. Most of theprovince is sparsely populated.

The economy is largely centred on naturalresource development – forestry, mining, oil andgas development, hydroelectric generation andfishing, as well as agriculture. Natural resourcesand agricultural products account for aboutthree-quarters of total provincial exports, mostof which is forest products.

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L A N D A N D P E O P L E


Forestry is the most important industry,representing 8% of provincial Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or 15% or more of GDP whenindirect and induced economic activityis included. Forestry is the principal sourceof income for 41% of B.C.’s regional economicareas. About 87,000 British Columbians(or 4% of total jobs) are directly employed inforestry, with about half of those in mills andother wood product manufacturing operations.When direct and induced economic activity isincluded, forestry accounts for an estimated14% of B.C. employment, or about one in sevenjobs. Direct forest industry payments, includingfees for logging on public lands, provideabout 10% of provincial government revenues.

First Nations

Lands and forests have important spiritualand cultural significance for aboriginal people,who make up about 3% of B.C.’s population.Forests have historically provided First Nationswith everything from fish and wildlife, todrinking water, plant foods, medicines andmaterials to build houses, clothes and boats.

The courts recognize that First Nations haveaboriginal rights and title to the use of landsand resources; however, the courts do not makea determination regarding the actual existenceof such rights and title in B.C. As well, as mostFirst Nations in B.C. do not have treaties, theB.C. and Canadian governments are workingwith more than 40 First Nations to negotiatetreaties to clarify aboriginal rights and addresssocial, environmental and economic issues.Treaty resolution will bring certainty regardingownership and use of lands and resources.

In May 2000, B.C.’s first modern-day landclaims agreement came into effect, with theNisga’a Nation in northwestern B.C. Theagreement set out the Nisga’a people’s rightto self-government, and resulted in the transferof nearly 200,000 hectares of provincially-owned land to the Nisga’a Nation, includingownership of forest resources.

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Lands and forests have important spiritual and cultural significancePh

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F O R E S T S

Forests

British Columbia’s forests cover an area of about60 million hectares (149 million acres) – the sizeof France and Germany combined. Most of theremainder of the province consists of alpine orother naturally unforested areas such aswetlands and grasslands. Only about 2% of B.C.has been permanently converted to agriculture,urban areas and other forms of development.That means B.C. has almost the same amount offorest as it did prior to European settlement.

Compared to most jurisdictions, B.C. is largelyundeveloped, and much of the province remainsas relatively pristine wilderness. The amount ofroads is one measure of the level of development:about 45% of the province has less than0.1 kilometre of road per square kilometre(equivalent to less than 0.16 miles of road persquare mile).

Much of B.C.’s forests can be consideredold growth forest. According to a definitiondeveloped by provincial scientists, old growthis considered more than 120 or 140 years of agefor non-coastal forests, where fire is a frequentand natural occurrence; for coastal forests,where tree species are longer-lived and fire israre, old growth is defined as trees more than250 years of age. By this definition, an estimated43% of B.C.’s forests are old growth – that is25 million hectares (62 million acres), or aboutthe size of the United Kingdom or the state ofOregon. In B.C.’s coastal rainforest, old growthaccounts for more than half of the forest, withsome trees reaching more than 1,000 years of age.

Old forests typically contain snags, fallen logs,and large trees not common in younger forests.Many plant and animal species require oldforest habitat for some part of their life cycle.Overall, however, species benefit from a mixof forest ages across the landscape, asthis offers a wide range of habitat conditions.

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Fores t s cover two- th irds o f the province , or

roughly 60 mil l ion hectares . An est imated

43% of B.C.’s forests are considered old growth.


Ecological Diversity

B.C. is Canada’s most ecologically diverseprovince. For example:

> B.C. has an estimated one-fifth of theworld’s remaining coastal temperaterainforests. These forests stretch the lengthof B.C.’s coast, covering an area of about7.6 million hectares (18.7 million acres) –about the size of Ireland or the state of SouthCarolina. The mild, wet climate supportsspecies such as western redcedar, Douglas-fir, western hemlock, amabilis fir and Sitkaspruce. These are among the tallest treesin the world, and can reach an enormoussize in this highly productive ecosystem.

> Dry forests of lodgepole pine, the province’smost widespread tree species, dominate thegently rolling plateaus of central B.C. Likemany interior (or non-coastal) forests, thesepine forests depend on fire for renewal. Forexample, fires provide the high temperaturesneeded to open cones, which are sealed by a

layer of pitch, and allow seeds to escape.These forests are also subject to insectinfestations: the province is now exper-iencing its largest-ever infestation of themountain pine beetle, which has infestedabout two million hectares in the westcentral interior.

> B.C.’s harsh northern climate includes slow-growing forests of spruce, aspen, pine anddeciduous shrubs, interspersed with areasof black spruce bogs and alpine tundra.The boreal forests of northeast B.C. arepart of the extensive belt of boreal foreststhat stretch across Canada.

> The valleys of south-central B.C. are thehottest and driest in Canada. Grasslandsprovide habitat for some of the province’srarest plant and animal species, includingdesert species such as rattlesnakes. Forestedzones are made up of ponderosa pine andDouglas-fir forests.

> While interior forests are generally drierthan coastal forests, there is a wet belt onthe mountain slopes of southeastern B.C.These productive forests feature a widerange of tree species, including western redcedar and hemlock, which are commonlyfound on the coast.

These are only a few of B.C.’s 14 broad eco-logical zones, each of which is distinct in termsof climate, soil and vegetation. These biogeo-climatic zones are further divided into subzonesand variants, depending on elevation, soil andother conditions. This ecological classificationsystem helps forest managers to determinemanagement practices that are best suited to theunique conditions of each part of the province.

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F O R E S T S


Wildlife & Fish

British Columbia’s varied landscapes andforest types support a diversity and abundanceof wildlife and fish species.

> B.C. has more than half the species foundin Canada, including 70% of the country’snative mammal species and breeding birdspecies. Altogether, B.C. has about 1,130vertebrate species, including 142 speciesof mammals, 488 species of birds, 468 offish, 22 of amphibians and 18 of reptiles.

> The province has more large mammal speciesthan any other part of North America,including deer, elk, moose, caribou,mountain sheep, mountain goat, gray wolf,cougar, grizzly bear, black bear and wolverine.

> B.C. has internationally significantpopulations of some species, including75% of the world’s stone sheep, 60% of theworld’s mountain goats, one-quarter ofthe world’s grizzly bears and bald eagles, andglobally significant populations of salmon.

> B.C. has one of the largest predator-preysystems in North America, in the MuskwaKechika region of the northern RockyMountains. In this vast wilderness area,known as the “Serengeti of the North” for itsabundant wildlife, carnivores such as bears,wolves and lynx prey upon caribou, sheep,bison, mountain goat, moose, elk and deer.More than six million hectares (15 millionacres) of protected areas and specialmanagement zones have been designatedto conserve wildlife habitat in the region.

Species at Risk

Given B.C.’s high level of biodiversity, it isnot surprising that some species are threatenedor endangered. This is partly due to ecologicalconsiderations: some species only occur inone small ecosystem; as well, B.C. representsthe northern range of some species morecommonly found in the U.S.

B.C. has made a concerted effort to assess thestatus of species through initiatives such asthe B.C. Conservation Data Centre. Researchhas found that one out of ten species ofvertebrate animals and plants in the provinceare threatened or endangered. The largestnumber of species at risk are found in south-central B.C. (which includes rare grassland anddesert species), the southeast, and the regionsaround Vancouver and Victoria.

As a signatory to the National Accord forthe Protection of Species at Risk, B.C. hascommitted to protect species and their habitats,and develop recovery plans for nationallydesignated species at risk. Recovery planning

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W I L D L I F E & F I S H


is now under way for species such as spottedowls, caribou, marbled murrelets and Pacificgiant salamanders.

Species-specific initiatives are in place forgrizzly bears and other species that areconsidered vulnerable in part of their range.The Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategyincludes a scientific panel, recovery planning,a trust fund and education efforts.

On forest land, species-specific harvestingrestrictions are in place to protect importanthabitat for key species. So far, more than 145Wildlife Habitat Areas have been establishedto conserve key habitat in forested areas.

Other initiatives include work with the U.S.to conserve trans-boundary species such asbull trout and sturgeon, and public-privatepartnerships to conserve natural values insome of B.C.’s most developed areas, includingthe Georgia Basin in the Vancouver regionand the South Okanagan. With about 95% of land in public ownership,

the B.C. government is responsible for managingland in the public interest, finding a balancebetween often-competing views on environ-mental, economic and social issues.

Starting in the early 1990s, B.C. launchedstakeholder-based land use planning to determinehow public lands should be used, includingwhich areas should be protected, and whichshould be available for resource developmentand other uses. Four regional plans and 15sub-regional plans have been completed throughcooperative planning. Where possible, planninghas represented all interests, including the B.C.government, First Nations, conservation groups,

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Planning Completed

Planning Underway

Protected AreasPlanning Completed

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Prince GeorgeMorice

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Queen Charlotte Islands/Haida Gwaii

Land use plans have been completed in about three-quarters of the province.

L A N D U S E P L A N N I N G

Land Use Planning

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forest companies, communities and recreationgroups. The process has involved studyingcomprehensive information about the manyvalues within the planning area, and strivingto reach consensus land use recommendationsfor final decision by government.

As a result of land use planning, hundredsof new parks have been designated, expandingB.C.’s protected areas system from 6% of theland base to more than 12%. Another 14% ofthe province has been designated as specialmanagement zones, where the conservationof wildlife, recreation or other values takesprecedence over resource development. Inaddition, lands with important resource valueshave been zoned for sustainable resourcedevelopment, subject to provincial regulations.

Land Use Planning in the Coastal Rainforest

Planning is under way in three coastal regions:the Central Coast (sometimes referred to asthe Great Bear Rainforest), North Coast andQueen Charlotte Islands (also called HaidaGwaii). All three regions include large areasof undeveloped rainforest, bear and salmonhabitat, and an economy that is heavily relianton forestry and fishing. First Nations, who makeup a high proportion of the overall population,have a key role in planning. An independentscience team is providing advice on thedevelopment of ecosystem-based managementto balance environmental conservation andcommunity stability. Planning on the CentralCoast is the most advanced, with a preliminaryland use agreement and proposed protectionareas. Planning for all three regions will becomplete in 2004.

Resource Management Planning

Sustainable Resource Management Planningis taking place at the landscape level, definingresource objectives and strategies based onthe broad goals set through land use plans.The aim is to identify or maintain sustainabledevelopment opportunities that are consistentwith environmental considerations. Resourcemanagement planning may address all resourcevalues or only one value such as forestry, water,tourism or recreation; however, single-valueplans must address implications for otherresource users and values, which will beaddressed over time. Planning is a co-operativepartnership between government and theprivate sector, involving First Nations, localcommunities, resource companies andother interests.

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Land use planning is a cooperative effort


Protected Areas

B.C. has more than 870 protected areas, covering12.3 million hectares (30 million acres) – an arealarger than the state of Pennsylvania, or Austriaand the Netherlands combined.

Roughly half of protected areas wereestablished in the last decade or so as a resultof stakeholder-based land use planning. Theseareas were designated with the goal of protectingthe ecological and biological diversity of theprovince, including a range of landscapes,forest types and wildlife habitat, as well asrecreational and cultural features. B.C.’sprotected areas provide natural benchmarksfor scientific research, and serve as outdoorclassrooms to increase understanding of thenatural environment. No commercial resourcedevelopment is permitted in protected areas.

B.C.’s protected areas include:

Ecological diversity: In 1991, about three-quarters of B.C.’s ecosections had protectionlevels of less than 6%; Now, most ecosectionshave more than 6% protected, and one-thirdhave more than 12% protected.

Large wilderness areas: Many of B.C.’s largerprotected areas conserve extensive undisturbedecosystems. Within these parks, naturalprocesses prevail and intact predator-preyrelationships often exist, with large mammalssuch as bears, wolves and cougars preying ondeer, elk and other species. Protected areasexceeding a half million hectares (1.2 millionacres) include Spatsizi Plateau Wilderness Park,Tweedsmuir Park, Tatshenshini-Alsek Parkand Northern Rocky Mountains Park. B.C. hasmore than 25 parks exceeding 100,000 hectares(247,000 acres) and more than 150 larger than5,000 hectares (12,300 acres).

Habitat: Protected areas help to preserve habitatfor a range of wildlife, fish and plant species,and serve as key areas of refuge for species atrisk. Recent designations include rare speciesin the bunchgrass ecosystem at Churn Creek,the intact coastal temperate rainforests of the Kitlope, and Canada’s only grizzly bearsanctuary in the Khutzeymateen.

Forests: About 9.5% of B.C.’s forests arepermanently protected, or 5.7 million hectares(14 million acres). Protection levels for olderforests (greater than 140 years) are higher,with about 14% protected. More than 800,000hectares of B.C.’s coastal temperate rainforestsare protected so far, and most of this is madeup of older forests.

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P R O T E C T E D A R E A S


Special Management Zones

Land use planning not only led to the creationof parks, it also led to the establishment ofspecial management zones for many other areaswith important ecological values. About 14%of the province has been designated for specialmanagement. Each of these areas is managedto conserve the unique values for which itwas established – generally for wildlife habitator other ecological values, or sometimes forrecreation or cultural values. While managementvaries between each area, some resourcedevelopment is usually still allowed. Althoughspecial management zones are not consideredprotected areas by B.C.’s standards, theycontribute to the conservation of some ofB.C.’s most important natural areas. Also,they are often adjacent to protected areas,helping to protect those ecological values,such as providing wildlife corridors.

Forest Development

B.C.’s high level of public ownership meansthat government has significant influencein determining how and where harvestingtakes place, and how much harvesting occurs.B.C.’s forest management helps ensure thatall forest values are considered, that thereare opportunities for First Nations and publicinvolvement, and that there are independentprocesses in place to determine harvest levelsand to audit forest practices.

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F O R E S T D E V E L O P M E N T

B.C.’s fores t management inc ludes

requirements to protect biodiversi ty,

se t annual har ves t l eve l s , and provide

opportunit ies for First Nations and

public involvement.Ph

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Forests Available for Development

B.C.’s Forest Lands – 60 million hectares

While about 53 million hectares of B.C.’s forestsare considered commercially productive, onlyabout 25 million hectares (62 million acres)or 42% of the total forest is considered availablefor logging over time.

The remaining 35 million hectares (87 millionacres) of forests are expected never to beharvested – an area the size of Germany orthe state of Montana. These forests includeabout six million hectares in protected areas,and another 29 million hectares which areinaccessible or uneconomic based on currenttechnology and markets, or not available forlogging due to conservation values. This includesforests along large fish-bearing streams, steepslopes unsuitable for harvesting, areas thathave been set aside to protect habitat for speciesat risk, and forests with important old growthvalues. In addition to maintaining ecologicalvalues, these forests also provide opportunitiesfor outdoor recreation and other uses.

Tenure System

Private forest companies, communities andindividuals gain the right to harvest timberin public forests through tenure agreementswith the provincial government.

Under a tree farm licence (TFL), for example,a company has rights to harvest timber in aspecified area. Companies are required to paygovernment stumpage fees (for timber harvestedin public forests) and annual rent, ensuringthat British Columbians benefit from thedevelopment of public forests. Companies withTFLs also have significant forest managementresponsibilities, including preparing five-yearmanagement plans, operational plans, roadbuilding and reforestation.

Other tenures, such as forest licences, providerights to log a specific amount from a givenarea in exchange for payment of stumpageand forest management responsibilities suchas road building and reforestation. Anotherkind of tenure makes timber available to smallbusiness loggers, small sawmill owners andindependent manufacturing facilities througha competitive award system. There are alsocommunity based tenures.

All harvesting in public forests must abide byB.C.’s forest practices regulations and be withinallowable annual cut levels determined by law.

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F O R E S T D E V E L O P M E N T

42%available forlogging over time

10%protected

48%not availablefor logging

< 1%annualharvest

48% not available for logging (29 million hectares)

10% protected by legislation (6 million hectares)

42% available for logging over time (25 million hectares)

one third of 1% annual harvest (about 193,000 hectares)


Harvest Levels

Determining Harvest Levels

By law, decisions on the volume of wood thatcan be logged – called the allowable annual cut(AAC) – must be set for major management areasof public forest. That involves 37 timber supplyareas and 34 tree farm licences as well as smallerwoodlot areas that include public land, andcommunity forest agreements. B.C. law requiresthat AACs be determined every five years,unless information indicates that no changesto harvest levels would be needed.

AAC decisions are made by B.C.’s ChiefForester, who uses his independent professionaljudgement based on the best availableinformation. This information is collected andprepared through the timber supply reviewprocess. Computer analysis is used to examinehow the timber supply may be affected by recentland use decisions, current forest practicesrequirements, objectives for non-timber valuesand other factors. The process is open andtransparent, and includes public review andinput, as well as consultation with First Nations.The purpose is to ensure that the short-termAAC is consistent with long-term sustainabilityof the timber supply, the interests of FirstNations and the public, and policies andpractices that may affect the timber supply.

Together with other initiatives and policies,this process provides assurances that largeamounts of forest will be conserved forgenerations to come, and that timber will be available to support future opportunitiesfor the forest products industry.

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H A R V E S T L E V E L S

Forest Products and Markets

B.C. produces lumber, pulp and paper as well asoriented strand board, plywood, cedar shakes and shingles, newsprint and value-added woodproducts. Non-coastal production is largelymade up of dimensional lumber produced inlarge, modern mills. The smaller coastalindustry produces lumber and higher-valueproducts such as flooring and doorframes.

More than 90% of B.C.’s forest products areexported, with about 65% of exports going tothe U.S. – largely dimensional lumber for houseconstruction and remodelling. Other importantmarkets are Japan (16%) and the EuropeanUnion (9%).

B.C.’s forest product exports account for about5% of world exports of forest products, and itspulp exports represent 12.5% of world exports.The province is the single largest exporter ofsoftwood lumber in the world.

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Annual Harvest Levels

Each year, an average of about 193,000 hectares(477,000 acres) of B.C. forest is logged, amount-ing to roughly 75 million cubic metres of timber.About 70% of the harvest comes from B.C.’sinterior, and the remainder from coastal areas.

About 90% of logging takes place in publicforests, where annual harvest rates average184,000 hectares (455,000 acres), or roughly65 million cubic metres of timber. Thatarea amounts to one-third of one per centof total public forest, or 0.8% of the forestarea considered available for harvest.

Harvesting on B.C.’s one million hectares(2.5 million acres) of privately managed forestland averages about 9,000 hectares (22,000acres) a year, or 8 million cubic metres. Thisharvest rate represents about 0.9% of B.C.’sprivately managed forest.

Due to B.C.’s relatively short history oflogging, most logging still takes place in foreststhat have never been harvested, including olderforests. This will change over time as moresecond growth (or previously harvested) treesreach an appropriate size for harvesting.

Long-Term Harvest LevelsThe total area harvested on public lands isexpected to remain relatively constant atthe current level over the long term. Howeverthe volume of timber harvested is expectedto change.

In the mid-term, the volume of timber loggedis expected to decline somewhat as loggingshifts from primary reliance on old forests tosecond growth (or previously harvested) forests,a transition that will take many decades.This decline is largely due to the fact that largeamounts of second growth forest will notbe mature enough to harvest in the mid-term.

In the long term, B.C.’s timber harvestlandbase is expected to support an overallharvest volume equivalent to or possibly higherthan current levels. These projections aresupported by recent research on growth rates,which suggests regenerated forests oftenshow much higher productivity than the olderforests now being harvested.

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B.C. law requires that annual harvest levels be set for public forests

Each year, less than one-third of one

per cent of public forests are logged.

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Forest Practices

Forest practices on public lands are undergoinga major regulatory change. The Forest PracticesCode, which used a highly prescriptive andregulatory approach, is being phased out. Thenew Forest and Range Practices Act, developedwith the benefit of an open and independentconsultation process, will deliver the same levelof environmental protection in a more efficientand effective manner. Under this new approach,government will set objectives to conserve forestvalues, and forest companies will determine howbest to meet those objectives, with monitoringand enforcement to ensure that those outcomesare achieved. The new legislation is scheduledto come into effect in January 2004 and be fullyimplemented within a few years.

While most of B.C.’s regulations apply topublic forest lands, privately-managed forestsare also subject to legally specified forestpractices standards for water quality, soilconservation, fish habitat, critical wildlifehabitat and reforestation.

Objectives for Forest Values

Under the new Forest and Range Practices Act,clear outcomes or objectives will be set inregulations to sustain the full range of forestvalues – soils, visual quality, timber, forage,water, fish, wildlife, biodiversity, recreation,resource features and cultural heritageresources. Regulations will also include defaultresults or strategies for some values, such asriparian (streamside) management and soilconservation. In addition, forest developmentmust be in keeping with legal objectives fromland use plans, helping to conserve the uniquevalues of each area.

For example, one aspect of maintainingbiodiversity is the retention of old growthforests. Government objectives will determinethe minimum amount of old growth thatmust be retained, depending on the naturaldisturbance type of the ecosystem, as well as the biodiversity emphasis level of the particulararea. For example, an area of the Sub-Boreal

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Pine Spruce zone with a low biodiversityemphasis may have a 7% old growth retentionrequirement, while a portion of the MountainHemlock zone with a high biodiversity emphasismay require 28% old growth retention. B.C.is believed to be the only jurisdiction in NorthAmerica, and perhaps the world, to havejurisdiction-wide, legal requirements for theprotection of old growth forest ecosystems.Government and industry are working togetherto spatially locate old growth management areasthat achieve these retention requirements.

Planning

Prior to harvesting, forest companies mustdevelop a Forest Stewardship Plan specifyinghow forest values will be conserved, andidentifying, on a map, the areas whereharvesting is planned. The plan must providemeasurable and enforceable results or strategiesto meet government-set objectives forbiodiversity, wildlife habitat and other forest

values. That involves determining how toaddress the unique values of the area – whetherit is old growth, recreation, wildlife habitat orall of these. As well, plans must address thevalues identified through land use planning,such as sites that may provide important habitatfor certain wildlife species.

This approach gives forest companies and theresource professionals they hire more freedomto manage, and more opportunity to useinnovation and expertise. It also places morereliance on science-based assessments and adviceto inform management decisions. In keepingwith this, B.C. has introduced new legislationthat holds resource professionals, includingforesters, agrologists and biologists, moreaccountable for the plans they help prepare.This includes new legislation to register andlicense biologists, which may be the first of itskind in the world.

Public and First Nations Involvement

Forest Stewardship Plans must demonstratethat requirements for public review have beenmet and that comments received have beenaddressed. In addition to public review andcomment, the province is obliged to addressaboriginal interests in decision-making processes.This involves consultation with First Nations.The province has developed consultationpolicies and guidelines that help guide decisionsof government, including those related tothe approval of Forest Stewardship Plans.

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Enforcement

The results and strategies described in anapproved Forest Stewardship Plan form thebasis for compliance and enforcement, alongwith several on-the-ground practices require-ments. Government’s enforcement programconducts thousands of annual inspections,showing a compliance rate of more than 97%with existing forest practices regulations. Underthe new legislation, fines for non-compliancehave substantially increased – in some casesdoubling in amount. Also, enforcement staffwill have new powers to intervene and stop workwhere there is a risk of damage occurring.

Forest Certification

Almost all major forest companies operating inB.C. have chosen to pursue forest certificationas a way to demonstrate their commitment tosustainable management. B.C. has emerged asa North American leader in certification. Mostmajor companies have met the requirements ofthe ISO environmental management system asa first step to pursuing independent third-partyforest certification. A total of 9.5 millionhectares (23 million acres) in B.C. is certifiedunder the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, whichincludes principles, objectives and performancemeasures for forest management. Another5.3 million hectares (13 million acres) is certifiedunder the Canadian Standards Association,which includes forest management performancemeasures developed through public consultation.So far, 89,000 hectares (220,000 acres) hasbeen certified under the Forest StewardshipCouncil; that may increase now that regionalFSC standards have been completed.

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B.C. has emerged as a North American leader in certification


Forest Practices Board

In addition to government enforcement, B.C.also has an independent watchdog agency thatoversees forest practices.

The Forest Practices Board is similar to anAuditor General or Ombudsman for the forest.Its role includes:

> Auditing forest companies, chosen atrandom by the Board, for complianceand enforcement with forest practicesrequirements.

> Auditing government’s enforcement offorest practices requirements.

> Addressing concerns and complaints fromthe public about forest planning andpractices and government enforcement.

> Conducting special investigations ofimportant forestry issues.

As a result of its investigations and audits,the Board issues public reports makingrecommendations for improvement to bothindustry and government. Annual reportsfurther comment on the state of forest practicesin B.C. The Board also has the authority tocomment and make recommendations onforest practices that may comply with the law,but which the Board considers unsound.

The Board’s independent fieldwork andreports have shown measurable, on-the-groundimprovements in forest practices over the past10 years: better protection of streams fromharvesting, smaller cutblocks with more treesleft on-site, less disturbance resulting fromlogging, better construction and maintenanceof logging roads and more deactivation oflogging roads. However, the Board notes there isimportant work that still needs to be completed.

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F O R E S T P R A C T I C E S B O A R D

Supporting Continuous Improvement

Efforts to ensure that forest practices regulationsare effective and to support continuousimprovement include:

> Forest Practices Board will continue its roleas an independent watchdog for sound forestpractices.

> Effectiveness evaluations and reporting willdetermine if government-set objectives arebeing delivered.

> Resource professionals within and outside ofgovernment are developing best managementpractices consistent with objectives forforest values.

> Pilot projects will continue to provideinformation on innovative ways to undertakeplanning and practices to achieve objectives.

> Forest practices advisory council, withrepresentation from various interest groups,will undertake periodic reviews and makerecommendations for change.


That includes better protection for environmentalvalues such as wildlife, scenery and recreation atthe landscape level.

The Board will be auditing progress during thetransition to the Forest and Range Practices Act.Board audits and investigations will determinewhether the intended results are achieved, andits findings will be publicly released.

Revitalization Plan

Government’s forest policies continue to evolveand adapt to changing circumstances. Majorchanges are being made to policies andlegislation to build a stronger, more globallycompetitive forest sector, while maintainingenvironmental standards. Changes will revitalizeand diversify the industry, and create moreopportunities in harvesting and manufacturing.

Changes include:

> New forest practices regulations willimprove efficiency and effectiveness.

> Government is re-allocating existing loggingrights to make more timber available forFirst Nations, communities and smalleroperators, encouraging long-term economicdevelopment.

> Policy changes will allow market forces todrive commercial decisions, resulting incompetitive markets for standing timber,logs and harvesting rights.

> Designation of a “working forest” outsideof protected areas is expected to increasecertainty for all users of public forests,including companies, workers andcommunities.

> More effort is being devoted towardsbuilding and maintaining markets forB.C. forest products.

First Nations

First Nations are increasingly turning to forests asa means of economic development. An increasingnumber of First Nations own – either whollyor in partnerships – a range of harvesting andmanufacturing operations. New initiatives willencourage more First Nations involvement:

> Government is increasing the share oftimber available to First Nations to 8%of the provincial harvest (from about 3%),which is reflective of the aboriginalpopulation in rural areas. This amountsto a total of 5.6 cubic metres of timber.Recent legislative changes enable theMinister of Forests to directly awardharvesting rights to First Nations withoutgoing through a competition process.

> New mechanisms are being developed toshare a portion of forest revenues withFirst Nations, amounting to $95 millionover the next three years.

This is in addition to First Nations’ ongoingparticipation in all major forestry programs,including silviculture, timber supply reviewsand land use planning. These initiatives worktowards addressing First Nations aboriginalinterests, providing economic benefits forcommunities, and building skills and expertise.

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R E V I T A L I Z A T I O N P L A N

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For More Information

B.C. Forests & their Management: www.growingtogether.ca or

www.bcforestinformation.com

Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification:

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hre/becweb/index.htm

Wildlife and Fish::http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/wld/

Species at Risk: http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/atrisk/

Land Use Planning:

http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/rmd/lrmp/index.htm

Protected Areas: http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/

Special Management Zones:

http://srmwww.gov.bc.ca/rmd/smz/index.htm

Revitalization Plan: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/plan/

Allowable Annual Cut: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/

Forest Practices: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/code/

Forest Practices Board: http://www.fpb.gov.bc.ca/

To contact us:

[email protected]

F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N

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Photo Credits

Moresby Consulting: cover, boom boat & aerial;

Candace Kenyon: old growth;

Ministry of Forests: stream & mill worker; Tourism British Columbia: lake;

Glen Golbeck, Hayes Forest Services Limited: helicopter.

B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A ’ S A P P R O A C H

C O N S E R V E V A S T A R E A S O F F O R E S T

B A L A N C E E N V I R O N M E N T A L , E C O N O M I C A N D S O C I A L V A L U E S

I N V O L V E B R I T I S H C O L U M B I A N S I N D E C I S I O N - M A K I N G

S T R I V E F O R C O N T I N U A L I M P R O V E M E N T I N F O R E S T M A N A G E M E N T

W E L C O M E I N D E P E N D E N T O B S E R V A T I O N

Ministry of Forests

british columbia’s forests

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