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Forestry inspection figures inconsistent |
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Written by GORDON HOEKSTRA
Citizen staff
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Wednesday, 07 May 2008 |
A B.C. Forest Practices Board investigation has found that the number of compliance and enforcement inspections varies widely in the province, as does the number of alleged non-compliances found.
For example, in the Prince George Forest District there were 284 harvesting and road inspections, compared to 835 in the North Island-Central Coast Forest District, which had nearly half as much timber harvested as the Prince George district. The Prince George district was cited for about the same number of alleged compliance infractions as the coast district.
While the investigation could not determine precisely the reasons for the variations, it found the numbers are strongly influenced by policy issues, the use of a data recording system and workforce issues, particularly in the North.
As a result of the investigation, the Forest Practices Board has recommended the forests ministry strengthen policy guidance for compliance and enforcement coverage, and ensure the ministry improve the data recording system.
"While the board generally finds high levels of compliance in our own audits and investigations, if the ministry is going to rely on (compliance and enforcement) inspections as the measure of industry compliance with forestry legislation, then it must improve its policies and ensure better inspection consistency across the province," said Bruce Fraser, chair of the Forest Practices Board.
The 24-page report noted that the inspection function of the compliance and enforcement program is "critically important." That's because it discerns what forest activities are taking place, the risk of those activities in relation to forest and revenue values, and the performance of companies in meeting forestry rules.
The report said there is currently no official policy guiding local district compliance and enforcement staff in how to set a particular level of coverage and how to measure its effort. The investigation found that most districts do not set targets for inspection numbers, and the result is a lack of certainty in inspection performance.
The investigation also noted that the ministry's compliance information management system is not well regarded in two forest districts, and no particular report from the system is used extensively by local forestry management to manage their compliance and enforcement program.
Workforce issues were also identified as a problem.
The investigation found, for example, that forest districts in the north of the province, which already have to deal with climate and access limitations, have difficulties recruiting and retaining staff.
In response to the report, the forests ministry said a number of steps have been taken to improve the issues raised. Those include staffing a vacant position that will take the lead on implementing revised compliance procedures to help improve the consistency of inspections.
The compliance information management system is also being improved, with a focus on reporting.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 May 2008 )
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