2021 Managed Forest Inspection Program
The Managed Forest Council (Council) is the independent provincial agency responsible for administering the forest practices component of the Managed Forest Program, which includes the protection of key environmental values.
The Private Managed Forest Land Council Regulation (Council Regulation) provides clear requirements for owners, contractors, employees and agents with respect to the key values. The legislation is a results-based regulatory model that allows forest owners to develop and use management strategies most appropriate to the scale and location of their operations.
Council assesses and monitors those requirements through its annual inspection program. Council has a policy to inspect all managed forests at least once every five years, as well as to inspect new managed forests within three years of entrance to the program. Managed forests may be inspected on a more frequent basis where potential environmental risk has been identified, such as higher levels of operations in proximity to water intakes or fish habitat.
The 2021 inspection program includes 70 managed forests located throughout BC. A team of six forest professionals will be engaged in carrying out the inspections and completing associated inspection reports. Inspections focus on harvesting; road construction, deactivation, and maintenance; and reforestation.
Council has COVID-19 safety procedures in place again this year for the 2021 Inspection Program. Council continues to monitor Covid 19 news, provincial health officer orders, and guidance from the BC Centre for Disease Control and WorkSafe BC. Owners whose managed forests have been scheduled for inspection have been notified and advised of the safety procedures.
Resources:
- 2021 Covid Safety Procedures
- Council’s Field Practices Guide provides a summary of regulatory obligations for private managed forest land and recommended forest practices