Board Overview and Core Business Areas

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; carry out special investigations and issue reports as the Board deems 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 Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) which enables the Board to focus increasingly on the effectiveness of forest practices in achieving objectives set by government for legislated forest resource values.

Legislation ensures Board independence from licensees and the government. While the Board submits reports to the Ministers of Forests and Range, Environment, Agriculture and Lands, and Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, its reports are not provided to government for revision or comment in advance of public release. When the Board deals with an audit of or a complaint about a government agency, that agency 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 statutory authority 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 subsequent enforcement actions.

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

Core Business Areas

The Board's core business areas are:

Conducting and publishing independent public reports on forest practice audits and investigations

The Board provides the public with objective information about the state of forest practices, validates sound practices and recommends improvements based upon direct field observation, consultation and research.

Conducting complaint investigations and administrative appeals

The Board provides a venue to address public complaints and concerns regarding forest practices.

Executive and support services

The Board retains executive, professional and technical staff and support services essential to implement strategic and operational decisions, maintain its investigative capacity and provide essential infrastructure to support the Board's core business functions.