British Columbia proposed changes to forest practices

British Columbia today announced that it is streamlining its forest practices regulations while maintaining strict environmental standards.

British Columbia today announced that it is streamlining its forest practices regulations while maintaining strict environmental standards. After years of pilot projects and study, government has developed a new results-oriented approach, and is encouraging input from all interests before putting new regulations into law.

A Results-Based Code will focus on the actual on-the-ground results needed to conserve fish, wildlife, soil, water and other values. Unlike the existing Forest Practices Code, it will avoid dictating how those results are achieved. Instead, companies will determine the most appropriate methods to use, with tough enforcement to make sure companies achieve the results needed to conserve environmental values. Requirements under the new Code will be science-based, measurable and enforceable, and will be subject to periodic scientific evaluation to ensure that they are effective. Where there is any doubt about environmental impact, then hard rules will remain in place (that includes streamside buffer zones to protect fish habitat).

All groups are encouraged to provide comments on proposed changes to the Code. Consultation will include an independent assessment by Forestry Professor George Hoberg. Legislation will be introduced in fall 2002, with the new Code coming into effect in spring 2003. For more information, please see www.resultsbasedcode.ca