An audit of Canfor’s Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 14, west of Spillimacheen, found compliance with British Columbia’s forestry legislation, according to a report released today.

“Canfor complied with requirements of the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act,” said Tim Ryan, board chair. “Auditors did find that Canfor had not completed fire-hazard assessments for all cut blocks, but had treated all fire hazards by piling and burning slash. Canfor was in the midst of developing procedures for fire-hazard assessments when the audit took place, but they had not yet been fully implemented.”

The Forest Practices Board audit covered all forestry activities carried out in the TFL between July 2014 and July 2016. Canfor harvested 50 cut blocks, built 60 kilometres of road and four bridges, and had road maintenance obligations for 1,191 kilometres of road and 50 bridges. Canfor also planted 78 cut blocks with new trees.

The board examined these activities, as well as silviculture treatments to assist planted cut blocks to reach free-growing – such as manually removing competing brush and vegetation – and fire-protection activities.

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.

Canfor’s Tree Farm Licence (TFL) 14 is located 32 kilometres southwest of Golden. The audit area is surrounded by the Glacier National Park in the northwest and Bugaboo Provincial Park in the south, with the Spillimacheen River, Bobbie Burns Creek and Vowell Creek as the main watersheds.

Lead image: Canfor’s mill at Radium Hot Springs. E-KNOW file photo

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