Whereas in past years forest licensees were required to present their forest harvesting plans to the local communities affected; And whereas there has been a breakdown in communications between the BC Forest Service, Forest Companies, and Contractors to the detriment of recreational and other legitimate crown land users resulting in usage conflicts and loss of income: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM ask BC Forest Service to compel tenure holders and harvesting contractors to present their harvesting plans to local communities prior to the commencement of logging activities.
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Community meetings to review forest harvesting plans are not a current legal requirement of Forest License Holders; however, recognizing the importance of this engagement, community sessions have been organized and supported in some areas by FLNRORD Resource District Offices, for example: - Ministry staff in the Kamloops Timber Supply Area TSA began community meetings with tenure holders in 2019 where harvesting plans are presented for review by the public and interested stakeholders, - Ministry staff in a neighboring Okanagan TSA are communicating planned forest harvest operations using web based operational map tools. The topic of the UBCM resolution is the focus of the renewal of the Forest and Range Practices Act FRPA through the introduction of spatialized Forest Operations Maps and the piloting of Forest Landscape Planning. Engagement with local governments regarding Forest Sector Modernization is currently underway. Please see: https:www2.gov.bc.cagovcontentindustryforestrycompetitive-forest-indust…