2003/04 – 2005/06 SERVICE PLAN Forest Practices Board

Strategic Context

Board Overview

The Forest Practices Board was created under the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act (the Code) as an independent watchdog for the public interest in B.C.’s public forests. The board’s mandate is to: audit tenure holders and government ministries for compliance with, and enforcement of, the Code; deal with complaints from the public regarding forest planning and practices, and government enforcement, of the Code; carry out special investigations and issue special reports as the Board sees appropriate; request administrative reviews of approved forest development plans; participate on behalf of the public in reviews of penalty determinations; and participate in appeals to the Forest Appeals Commission.

Code legislation ensures Board independence from licensees and the government. While the Board provides reports to the Minister of Forests, the Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection, the Minister of Sustainable Resource Management, and the Minister of Energy and Mines, its reports and findings are not provided to government for revision or comment in advance of public release. When the Board deals with an audit of or complaint about a government operation, that operation is entitled to the same level of information about the Board’s preliminary findings as any other auditee or complaint subject.

The Board also has the authority of the Inquiry Act to compel the giving of evidence in the course of its investigations, and it has the authority to audit and investigate government’s forest practices and enforcement actions.

The Board’s funding is determined directly by Treasury Board.

Planning Context

Macro Trends:

• Growing global recognition of the ecological value of B.C. forests.
• Government moving towards performance-based regulation and professional reliance.
• Consumer preferences for “environment-friendly” products are leading to buyer demands for “certification” of wood products.
• Increasing competition for finite forest resources (timber and non-timber).
• Forest companies are increasing efforts to manage and prevent conflicts over forest resources.

Opportunities:

• Provide more useful and appropriate information on achievement of sound forest practices on the ground.
• The industry trend toward third-party stewardship certification audits can provide complementary information on the industry’s forest practices performance.
• Demonstrate to the world that B.C. forestry practices are sustainable and maintain high environmental standards.

Challenges:

• Transition to a new Code before knowing the final form of the Code and its regulations.
• Potential increase in local and international protests and boycotts of forest products in response to perceived deregulation.
• Potential loss of British Columbians’ autonomy and authority to international interests over what are acceptable forest practice standards.
• Landscape level objectives for resource management are still not established in many areas of B.C.
• Economic and fiscal health of government and industry.
• Public expectations for quality service.

Vision

Forests that are soundly managed to sustain the full range of forest values and forest resources for British Columbians.

Mission

The Board serves the public interest as the independent watchdog for sound forest practices in British Columbia.

Values

The Board:

• acts on behalf of the public’s interest, not those of any single group;
• is straightforward in its approach;
• emphasizes solutions over assigning blame;
• behaves in a non-adversarial, balanced manner;
• treats all people with respect, fairness and sensitivity;
• performs in a measured, unbiased and non-partisan manner;
• carries out its mandate with integrity and efficiency;
• provides clear and concise reports to the public;
• bases actions and decisions on knowledge, experience and common sense; and
• is accessible and accountable.