| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
Between 2004 and 2006 forest tenure holders ("licensees") along with a group of public and Aboriginal representatives (the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Public Advisory Group), developed a Sustainable Forest Management Plan (SFMP) for the Fort St. James Defined Forest Area (DFA). Members of the SFM Public Advisory Group (PAG) represented a cross-section of local interests including recreation, tourism, ranching, forestry, conservation, water, community and Aboriginals. The SFMP includes a set of values, objectives, indicators and targets that address environmental, economic and social aspects of forest management in the Fort St. James DFA. The plan is based on the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Sustainable Forest Management; Requirements and Guidance, which is one of the primary certification systems currently being used in British Columbia. A SFMP developed according to the CSA standard sets performance objectives and targets over a defined forest area (DFA) to reflect local and regional interests. Consistent with most certifications, and as a minimum starting point, the CSA standard requires compliance with existing forest policies, laws and regulations. Working with the PAG, this SFMP has undergone substantive revisions in 2011 to reflect the requirements of the newest CSA standard’s requirements (CSA Z809-08). Irrespective of changes occurring to the CSA SFM standard, the SFMP is an evolving document that is reviewed and revised annually with the PAG to address changes in forest conditions and local community values. Each year the PAG reviews an annual report prepared by the licensees to assess achievement of indicators and targets. This monitoring process provides the licensees, the public and Aboriginals an opportunity to bring forward new information and to provide input concerning new or changing public values that can be incorporated into future updates of the SFMP. Following completion of the SFMP and the development of an environmental management system, a licensee may apply for registration of its operating area under the CSA standard and will be audited to the standards of CSA Z809. The Canfor certification website contains the latest information on the Fort St. James DFA process, including the SFM Plan, and can be viewed at: http://www.canfor.com/responsibility/environmental/certification or http://www.sfmpgtsa.com/ |
