British Columbia Amends Forest Management Regulations to Add Greater Transparency

On Monday (6-26-23), the British Columbia provincial government introduced amendments to its forest management regulations that will add transparency to forest licenses, legal protection for rare habitats, and increase management of recreation sites and trails.

According to the announcement, under the new regulations licensees will publish forest operations maps, including proposed cutblocks and roads, and make them available to the public for their feedback. The province has also developed an optional web-based tool for companies to display maps and invite public feedback and plans to launch it fully next year. B.C. Timber Sales as well some forestry companies in the province are currently in the process of evaluating the mapping portal.

Another new regulation under the Forest and Range Practices Act will establish a new protected habitat category known as Ecological Communities, designed to increase protection for rare and endangered species and habitats.

In commenting on the announcement B.C.’s Forest Minister Bruce Ralston said, the release of these amendments are important to British Columbian’s. “We are boosting forest conservation to better support ecosystem health, including rate and critical habitat. Opening the planning process to the public through the use of new digital tools will engender greater public trust and ensure forest resiliency.”