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. The Board's mandate continues under the new Forest and Range Practices Act.

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.