Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
Regulations - Forest Practices Code of BC Act

WOODLOT LICENCE FOREST MANAGEMENT REGULATION

Contents

B.C. Reg. 325/98 Deposited September 23, 1998
O.C. 1202/98 Effective November 30, 1998 (Consolidated to December 12, 2003)

 

PART 1 Definitions and Interpretation
PART 2 Operational Plans
PART 3 General Forest Practices
PART 4 Roads
PART 5 Harvesting Practices
PART 6 Silviculture
PART 7 Riparian Widths
PART 7.1 Ungulate Winter Range and Identified Wildlife
PART 8 Offences
PART 9

SCHEDULE A – Stocking Standards

 

 

PART 2 - OPERATIONAL PLANS

Division 1 - General









Best information available
  5   Subject to any requirement to use known information, a holder of a woodlot licence who is required to prepare an operational plan must, when preparing the plan, use the most comprehensive and accurate information available to the holder.









Additional watershed assessment information
  6   If requested by the district manager, a holder of a woodlot licence must provide to the district manager information respecting the woodlot licence area that the district manager requires for watershed assessments.

Division 2 – Forest Development Plans









Additional exemptions for forest development plans
  6.1   The holder of a woodlot licence is exempt from the requirement for a forest development plan for an area under the woodlot licence, if the district manager is satisfied that the only harvesting that will take place in that area is proposed by a person other than the holder and is for one or more of the following purposes:
  (a) establishment of seismic lines;
  (b) development of a gravel pit or rock pit;
  (c) mining or oil or gas extraction;
  (d) widening of a road;
  (e) facilitating construction or modification of a road by another person who is authorized to carry out the construction or modification under, or pursuant to a permit issued under, the Forest Act or any other enactment;
  (f) establishment of a utility right of way;
  (g) clearing a fence line;
  (h) a purpose that the district manager determines is similar to those in paragraphs (a) to (g).









Review and comment for forest development plans
  7 (1) In this section “newspaper” means a newspaper circulating in the area of a plan, or if no newspaper circulates in that area, then a newspaper that circulates nearest to that area, and includes a newspaper that is free and one that does not have subscribers.
  (2) For the purposes of section 39 (1) of the Act, before submitting a forest development plan or amendment for approval, the holder of a woodlot licence must
  (a) publish a notice, in a form acceptable to the district manager, in a newspaper,
  (b) refer the plan or amendment for a period specified by the district manager, to any persons specified by the district manager, and
  (c) submit to the district manager a copy of the forest development plan or amendment in the form that will be made available for review and comment
  (i) at substantially the same time as the publication of the newspaper, or
  (ii) at any other time agreed to by the district manager and the holder of the woodlot licence.
  (3) Despite subsection (2) (a), a holder of a woodlot licence need not publish a notice of an amendment to a forest development plan before the amendment is submitted for approval unless the holder received written comments from the public under subsection (5) with respect to the approval of the plan.
  (4) A holder of a woodlot licence who publishes a notice under subsection (2) (a) must provide opportunity for review and comment to persons interested or affected by operations under the plan or amendment for a period of
  (a) 30 days from the date of publication unless the district manager determines that a longer period is required to provide adequate opportunity for review, or
  (b) at least 5 days from the date of publication if the plan or amendment is one to which section 42 (1) of the Act applies.
  (5) A holder of a woodlot licence who
  (a) publishes a notice under subsection (2) (a), or
  (b) refers the plan or amendment under subsection (2) (b)
    must ensure that the professional forester who signs the plan or amendment reviews all written comments received during the specified period of review and makes any revisions to the plan or amendment that the holder and the professional forester consider to be appropriate.
  (6) A holder of a woodlot licence who submits for approval a forest development plan or amendment, must submit with the plan or amendment
  (a) a copy of the notice required under subsection (2) (a),
  (b) a copy of each written comment received
  (i) during the period of public review specified in subsection (4), and
  (ii) as a result of any referral process specified by the district manager in subsection (2) (b), and
  (c) a summary of all revisions made to the plan or amendment under subsection (5).









Repealed
  8   Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 201/2002, Sch. D]









Period and effective term of a forest development plan
  9 (1) A holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a forest development plan covers a period of at least 5 years unless
  (a) the remaining term of the woodlot licence is less than 5 years, or
  (b) the district manager is satisfied that the plan cannot be developed for a period of 5 years because
  (i) the woodlot licence was entered into shortly before the commencement of the harvesting season for the proposed cutblocks and as a result there is insufficient time to prepare a forest development plan that covers a period of 5 years,
  (ii) a significant portion of the plan is for the harvesting of timber that is damaged by wind, insects or fire and the exact location of the timber cannot be determined, or
  (iii) of reasons beyond the control of the holder.
  (2) Unless otherwise specified by the district manager, a forest development plan expires 5 years from the date specified in the approval of the plan under Division 5 of Part 3 of the Act.
  (2.1) Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 350/2002, Sch. K]
  (3) Despite the expiry of a forest development plan, if before the expiry of the forest development plan the holder of a woodlot licence is required to produce a free growing stand on a proposed cutblock in that plan, the holder must establish regeneration and produce the free growing stand in accordance with all of the following requirements, if these requirements are contained in the expired plan:
  (a) the silvicultural system and harvesting method referred to in section 13;
  (b) the preferred and acceptable species and the regeneration method referred to in section 14;
  (c) the stand structure to be achieved at the completion of proposed harvesting operations referred to in section 14;
  (d) the stocking requirements for the indicated biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification referred to in section 14;
  (e) any other commitments that are made in the plan for specific cutblocks that have not been completed before the expiry of the plan.









General content requirements of forest development plans
  10 (1) A holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a forest development plan addresses the entire woodlot licence area unless the district manager is satisfied that a smaller area is sufficient.
  (2) A holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a forest development plan includes information and maps, at a scale sufficient to permit adequate assessment by the district manager of
  (a) the topography, unless exempted by the district manager,
  (b) the following proposed operations to be carried out by the holder:
  (i) harvesting;
  (ii) road construction to provide access to cutblocks, including the construction of any bridge or major culvert that is part of the road;
  (iii) bridge and major culvert construction within a cutblock, and
  (iv) Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 350/2002, Sch. K]
  (c) the location of standards units, and of areas with different biogeoclimatic ecosystem classifications, within a proposed cutblock, if the holder submits information under section 14 related to that cutblock.
  (3) The holder of a woodlot licence must include in the forest development plan the timing of proposed timber harvesting and related forest practices, including road construction, modification, maintenance and deactivation, if the district manager determines that the timing is critical to the management of forest resources.
  (4) If the district manager is satisfied that a known watershed assessment is applicable to a woodlot licence area, the holder of the woodlot licence must ensure that the forest development plan is consistent with that assessment.
  (5) A holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a forest development plan contains the signature of the holder or of a person who has authority to sign the plan on behalf of the holder.










Information required for the entire woodlot licence area
  11 (1) The requirements of this section apply to
  (a) the entire woodlot licence area, or
  (b) a smaller area approved by the district manager under section 10 (1).
  (2) A holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a forest development plan describes or identifies the following:
  (a) the forest cover;
  (b) the location of streams, wetlands and lakes shown on
  (i) forest cover maps,
  (ii) terrain resource inventory maps, or
  (iii) fish and fish habitat inventory maps;
  (c) public utilities on Crown land including
  (i) transmission lines,
  (ii) gas and oil pipelines, and
  (iii) railways.
  (3) A holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a forest development plan identifies and describes the following known items:
  (a) sensitive areas established in accordance with the Act;
  (b) wildlife habitat areas, but the location of the wildlife habitat area must not be shown if the designated environment official makes it known that the location of the wildlife habitat area must not be included in an operational plan or road layout and design, in which case only the name of the identified wildlife protected by the wildlife habitat area must be included;
  (c) forest ecosystem networks;
  (d) scenic areas;
  (e) ungulate winter ranges;
  (f) community watersheds;
  (g) community and licensed domestic water supply intakes and related water supply infrastructures;
  (h) water quality objectives for community watersheds;
  (i) fish streams;
  (j) the riparian class of streams, wetlands and lakes;
  (k) roads proposed by others;
  (l) temporary or permanent barricades to restrict vehicle access;
  (m) private property;
  (n) resource features, other than wildlife habitat features, domestic water supply intakes and archaeological sites;
  (o) old growth management areas.
  (4) A holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a forest development plan specifies
  (a) the general objectives for retention of coarse woody debris, and
  (b) measures to reduce any losses that are identified after evaluation of the occurrence of significant forest health factors which are causing or may cause damage.
  (5) Unless otherwise specified by the district manager, a comprehensive strategy for wildlife tree retention must be included with the forest development plan when the forest development plan is
  (a) referred to any persons specified by the district manager,
  (b) made available for review and comment, and
  (c) submitted for approval.
  (6) A comprehensive plan for wildlife tree retention or a comprehensive strategy for wildlife tree retention does not form part of the approved forest development plan, but may be considered by the district manager under section 41 (1) (b) of the Act in determining whether to approve the forest development plan.
  (7) A comprehensive plan for wildlife tree retention that was included as part of a forest development plan before the effective date of this section is not part of the forest development plan on and after the effective date.
  (8) A holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a forest development plan specifies measures that will be carried out to protect the following forest resources:
  (a) water quality, if harvesting, road construction, road modification or road deactivation
  (i) may occur in a community watershed, or
  (ii) may deleteriously impact water quality at a licensed domestic water supply intake;
  (b) recreation, if a recreation resource is located in or adjacent to the woodlot licence area;
  (c) wildlife or fisheries, if the district manager makes known a significant wildlife or fisheries value that requires measures to protect;
  (d) any other forest resource value that the district manager makes known as requiring measures for protection.








Information required for portions of the woodlot
licence affected by proposed operations
  12 (1) A holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a forest development plan, for the area that may be affected by the proposed harvesting or road construction or modification operations, describes all of the following:
  (a) the approximate location of proposed cutblocks;
  (b) Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 350/2002, Sch. K]
  (c) Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 201/2002, Sch. D]
  (c.1) the location of sensitive slopes;
  (d) the approximate location of road construction operations to be carried out under the plan to provide access to the proposed cutblocks;
  (d.1) the approximate location of the construction of a bridge or major culvert if it is to be carried out by the holder to provide access to or within a proposed cutblock;
  NEW(e) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 466/2003, effective December 12, 2003]NEW
  (f) Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 232/2000]
  (g) the road deactivation operations that have been conducted NEWin the year previous to the date of the forest development plan submissionNEW or are to be conducted under the plan, including a description of roads that are currently deactivated or are to be deactivated under the plan.
  (2) If proposed harvesting or road construction or modification operations under the forest development plan are in a known scenic area with established visual quality objectives, the holder of the woodlot licence must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the district manager, how the proposed operations will achieve the visual quality objectives.









Information required for portions of the
woodlot licence within proposed cutblocks
  13 (1) A holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a forest development plan, for each proposed cutblock, specifies
  (a) the silvicultural system, or if the proposed harvesting is limited to intermediate cuttings, and
  (b) whether the cutblock will be harvested by cable, aerial or ground based harvesting methods or a combination of those methods.
  (2) Unless the information referred to in section 14 (6) to (8) is included in the forest development plan, a holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a forest development plan specifies general objectives for riparian management zones within proposed cutblocks, including the species of trees to be retained and one or more of the following indicators of tree retention for each possible riparian class of stream, wetland or lake:
  (a) the range of basal area to be retained, per hectare;
  (b) the range for the number of trees to be retained, per hectare, that are greater than a specific minimum diameter;
  (c) the range for the number of trees to be retained, per hectare, by diameter class;
  (d) the range for the number of trees to be retained by diameter class, for a specified length of riparian management zone;
  (e) other similar indicators of tree retention acceptable to the district manager.
  (3) A holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a forest development plan specifies, for any proposed cutblock within a known ungulate winter range, the known objectives for the ungulate winter range.
  (4) Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 350/2002, Sch. K]
  (5) Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 350/2002, Sch. K]









Terrain stability field assessments
  13.1 (1) The provisions of this section do not apply to harvesting that is necessary to construct or modify a road.
  (2) A holder of a woodlot licence who proposes to carry out harvesting on a sensitive slope, including the construction of excavated or bladed trails, must ensure that a terrain stability field assessment is carried out, and that the assessment is made available to the district manager on request.
  (3) Despite subsection (2), the terrain stability field assessment is not required in an area outside a community watershed if
  (a) for an area of proposed harvesting located in the Interior, all the following conditions are met:
  (i) the area of proposed harvesting is shown on a terrain stability hazard map as having a moderate likelihood of landslides or, if terrain stability hazard mapping has not been done, the area is shown on a reconnaissance terrain stability map as having potentially unstable terrain;
  (ii) the proposed timber harvesting method is cable or aerial;
  (iii) excavated or bladed trails will not be constructed, or
  (b) the assessment has been carried out for the purposes of locating a road and the assessment included the area of proposed harvesting.
  (4) Despite subsection (2), the terrain stability field assessment is not required in an area inside a community watershed if
  (a) for an area of proposed harvesting located in the Interior, all the following conditions are met:
  (i) the area of proposed harvesting is shown on a terrain stability hazard map as having a moderate likelihood of landslides or, if terrain stability hazard mapping has not been done, the area is shown on a reconnaissance terrain stability map as having potentially unstable terrain;
  (ii) the proposed timber harvesting method is cable or aerial;
  (iii) the silvicultural system will not be clearcut or clearcut with reserves;
  (iv) excavated or bladed trails will not be constructed, or
  (b) the assessment has been carried out for the purposes of locating a road and the assessment included the area of proposed harvesting.
  (5) A terrain stability field assessment required under this section does not form part of an operational plan.









Additional required information for proposed cutblocks that
must be contained in a forest development plan or a site plan
  14 (1) For each proposed cutblock, the holder of a woodlot licence must include all of the following information either entirely in a forest development plan or entirely in a site plan, whichever plan the holder chooses:
  (a) the biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification of the area within each standards unit;
  (b) the total area of each cutblock;
  (c) the net area to be reforested and non-productive areas for each cutblock;
  (c.1) any reserve areas or areas of non-commercial forest cover where the establishment of a free growing stand is not required;
  (d) the net area to be reforested for each standards unit within each cutblock;
  (e) areas where the regeneration method is planting or natural;
  (f) the elevation range if planting is proposed;
  (g) the preferred and acceptable species for each standards unit;
  (h) if the proposed cutblock is within a known ungulate winter range
  (i) the stand structure that will be retained after the proposed harvesting operations are completed, and
  (ii) the characteristics, species and function of trees that will be retained after the proposed harvesting operations are completed;
  (i) fish streams that are both in a community watershed and in or adjacent to the cutblock;
  (j) the riparian class of streams, wetlands and lakes that are in or adjacent to the cutblock;
  (k) if the harvesting is proposed for areas that are within a riparian management zone or, in accordance with section 35, in a riparian reserve zone, whether falling or yarding across streams will be undertaken and, if falling or yarding across streams will be undertaken, the measures for debris management;
  (l) the selection criteria and level of retention for wildlife trees and wildlife tree patches;
  (m) the location of a known resource feature in or adjacent to the cutblock, other than an archaeological site, and
  (i) any measures to protect the resource feature, or
  (ii) the reason for not protecting the resource feature;
  (n) if a terrain stability field assessment is required under section 13.1,
  (i) a statement that the assessment has been carried out in accordance with procedures required by this regulation for a terrain stability field assessment,
  (ii) a statement that the proposed harvesting complies with sections 60 and 61, and
  (iii) a statement
  (A) that the proposed forest development plan or site plan is consistent with the results and recommendations of the assessment, or
  (B) if the proposed forest development plan or site plan is inconsistent with the results and recommendations of the assessment, that explains the reason for the inconsistency and the reason why the plan should be approved despite the inconsistency.
  (2) Despite subsection (1), the requirements of subsection (1) (e) to (g) do not apply to proposed cutblocks if the holder of a woodlot licence is not required to produce a free growing stand on that cutblock.
  (2.1) Despite subsection (1), the requirements of subsection (1) (l) do not apply if the holder has submitted a comprehensive plan for wildlife tree retention or a comprehensive strategy for wildlife retention.
  (3) The size, shape and location of a proposed cutblock in a forest development plan that is submitted for approval must be based on a field traverse, if the holder of a woodlot licence includes in the forest development plan information required by this section for that cutblock.
  (4) If the holder of a woodlot licence includes in a site plan the information referred to subsections (1) and (5) to (8) for a proposed cutblock
  (a) Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 350/2002, Sch. K]
  (b) the information in the site plan must be based on a field traverse.
  (5) The holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that the forest development plan or site plan includes a map that identifies, for each proposed cutblock,
  (a) the standards unit and the biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification of the area within each standards unit, and
  (b) the approximate location of any reserve areas greater than 0.25 ha, including wildlife tree patches and riparian reserve zones.
  (6) The holder of a woodlot licence must ensure, for each riparian management zone within a proposed cutblock, that the forest development plan or site plan specifies the characteristics and species of trees to be retained within the cutblock and, in relation to those trees, provides the information described in one or more of the following paragraphs:
  (a) the minimum basal area to be retained per hectare;
  (b) the minimum number of trees to be retained, per hectare, that are greater than a specified minimum diameter;
  (c) the minimum number of trees to be retained, per hectare, by diameter class;
  (d) the minimum number of trees to be retained by diameter class, for a specified length of riparian management zone or for the entire riparian management zone;
  (e) other similar indicators of tree retention acceptable to the district manager.
  (7) Without limiting subsection (6), if within a cutblock harvesting is proposed in the riparian management zone of a stream that
  (a) has a riparian class of S4, S5 or S6,
  (b) is a direct tributary to a stream with a riparian class of S1, S2, S3 or S4 that is a known temperature sensitive stream, and
  (c) currently has sufficient numbers and distribution of trees to provide the shade necessary to prevent the stream temperature from increasing,
    the holder of a woodlot licence must specify in the forest development plan or a site plan, a stand structure in the riparian management zone that will continue to provide the shade necessary to prevent the stream temperature from increasing.
  (8) Without limiting subsection (6), if within a cutblock harvesting is proposed in the riparian management zone of a stream that
  (a) has a riparian class of S4, S5 or S6,
  (b) is a direct tributary to a
  (i) stream with a riparian class of S1, S2 or S3, or
  (ii) marine-sensitive zone, and
  (c) currently has sufficient numbers and distribution of trees to provide, or contribute significantly to the maintenance of, stream bank or channel stability, or both,
    the holder of a woodlot licence must specify in the forest development plan or a site plan, a stand structure in the riparian management zone that will continue to provide, or contribute significantly to the maintenance of, stream bank or channel stability, or both, as the case may be.
  (9) Despite subsections (6) to (8), if the information required by those subsections is included in a forest development plan, for a cutblock, it need not be included in a site plan for the cutblock.
  (10) The district manager may exempt the holder of a woodlot licence from any or all of the requirements of this section if the district manager is satisfied that the harvesting of the timber will adequately manage and conserve the forest resources of the area and that the harvesting
  (a) is on land that is, or will be, used for
  (i) grazing or growing of hay in accordance with an agreement under the Range Act,
  (ii) an experimental purpose,
  (iii) growing Christmas trees, or
  (iv) any use that is incompatible with the establishment of a free growing stand,
  (b) is an intermediate cutting that will remove an estimated volume not exceeding 2 000 m3 of timber that is damaged or in danger of being significantly reduced in value, lost or destroyed, or
  (c) will remove an estimated volume not exceeding 500 m3 and both of the following criteria are met:
  (i) the holder is not required to produce a free growing stand on the area;
  (ii) the timber to be harvested is one or more of the following:
  (A) associated with a minor harvesting operation;
  (B) damaged or in danger of being significantly reduced in value, lost or destroyed;
  (C) being felled or removed to eliminate a safety hazard;
  (D) to facilitate the collection of seed for reforestation;
  (E) required for trap trees to concentrate insect populations.
  (11) Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 350/2002, Sch. K]









Archaeological impact assessment may be required
  15 (1) The holder of a woodlot licence must carry out an archaeological impact assessment, and make the assessment available to the district manager, if the district manager
  (a) determines that an archaeological impact assessment is necessary to adequately manage and conserve archaeological sites in the area, and
  (b) notifies the holder in writing.
  (2) The archaeological impact assessment does not form part of an operational plan.









Information not required for minor salvage
and minor harvesting operations
  16 (1) Despite sections 10 to 13 of this regulation, a holder of a woodlot licence is not required to include the information specified in those sections if only minor salvage operations will be carried out, unless the district manager, by written notice, requires some or all of that information.
  (2) For minor harvesting operations, a holder of a woodlot licence
  (a) is exempt from the requirements of section 10 (1) (b) (i) and (c) (i) of the Act, and
  (b) is not required to include the information specified in sections 10 to 13 of this regulation, unless the district manager, by written notice, requires some or all of that information.


Division 3 – Site Plans









Protection of issued cutting permits and road permits
  17   Despite sections 10 (1) (d) and 41 of the Act, the district manager may not refuse to approve a forest development plan on the grounds that the part of the plan where a cutting permit or road permit has already been issued fails to meet the requirements of section 10 (1) (d) or 41 of the Act.








Requirement for site plan if information was
not included in the forest development plan
  18 (1) If information under section 14 relating to a cutblock, an area of minor salvage operations or an area of minor harvesting operations was not included in the forest development plan, the holder of the woodlot licence must, before the commencement of harvesting on the area, prepare and obtain the district manager’s approval of a site plan for the area that specifies the information referred to in that section.
  (2) For the purposes of areas of minor salvage operations and areas of minor harvesting operations referred to in subsection (1), references in section 14 to a cutblock are deemed to be references to proposed areas of minor harvesting operations, or minor salvage operations, excluding any roads that provide access to these areas.
  (3) The location of a wildlife habitat area must not be shown on a site plan if the designated environment official makes it known that the location of the wildlife habitat area is not to be included in operational plans.
  (4) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply if under section 14 (10) the district manager exempts the holder of the woodlot licence from all of the requirements of that section.
  (5) For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2), if under section 14 (10) the district manager exempts the holder of the woodlot licence from some, but not all, of the requirements of that section, the holder must, before the commencement of harvesting on the area, prepare and obtain the district manager’s approval of a site plan for the area that addresses the requirements of section 14 from which the holder is not exempt.
  (6) A site plan prepared under this section must be consistent with the forest development plan in effect when the site plan is submitted for approval.









Requirement for a site plan
  19 (1) For a proposed cutblock, minor salvage operation or minor harvesting operation, for which a cutting permit has not been issued, the district manager may require the holder of the woodlot licence to prepare and obtain the district manager’s approval of a site plan that contains information listed in subsection (2) required by the district manager, if the district manager is of the opinion that additional site level information is necessary to adequately manage and conserve the forest resources within that area.
  (2) A site plan required under subsection (1) must include any of the following, if required by the district manager:
  (a) maps describing the approximate location of
  (i) access structures that will be rehabilitated, and the time frame to complete their rehabilitation,
  (ii) permanent access structures, and
  (iii) harvesting and related forest practices;
  (a.1) maps indicating the location of proposed roads based on a field traverse
  (b) information related to the area occupied by permanent access structures or soil disturbance and the rehabilitation of these areas, if a variance from the amounts established under this regulation has been requested by the holder of the woodlot licence;
  (c) the results of soil hazard assessments;
  (d) a detailed description of the silvicultural system;
  (e) the stand structure that will be retained at the completion of the proposed harvesting;
  (f) stocking requirements referred to in Division 2 of Part 6, if the stocking requirements are different than those specified in Division 2 of Part 6 and Schedule A;
  (g) a description of measures, to accommodate non-timber forest resources that have not been included in the forest development plan;
  (h) with respect to excavated or bladed trails, all of the following:
  (i) a description or map of the areas where excavated or bladed trails may be constructed;
  (ii) the maximum and average height of cutbanks into mineral soil;
  (iii) the equipment to be used for trail construction if other than an excavator;
  (iv) if excavated or bladed trails are proposed for construction in a community watershed, the soil erosion hazard and risk of sediment delivery to streams;
  (v) the time frame to complete rehabilitation of the trails;
  (i) the results of a forest health assessment;
  (j) measures that will be taken to reduce significant forest health risks.
  (3) A site plan prepared under this section must be consistent with the forest development plan in effect when the site plan is submitted for approval.









Holder of a woodlot licence may submit a site plan
  20   A holder of a woodlot licence may submit to the district manager a site plan that proposes a variance from a requirement under this regulation with respect to the area of a cutblock, minor salvage operation or minor harvesting operation.









Site plan may cover an area larger
than the area of proposed harvesting
  21 (1) A holder of a woodlot licence may prepare a site plan for an area that covers an area larger than a cutblock, minor salvage operation or minor harvesting operation.
  (2) The district manager may approve that portion of a site plan in subsection (1) that applies to an area of proposed harvesting as either the site plan for the area or as an amendment to a site plan.









Authorized signatures
  22 (1) A holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a site plan contains
  (a) the signature and seal of a professional forester, and
  (b) the signature of the holder or of a person who has authority to sign the plan on behalf of the holder.
  (2) The requirements of subsection (1) (a) need not be met with respect to a site plan or amendment that is limited to
  (a) an area not greater than 1 ha, unless the change in area is the result of a field traverse that provides more accurate areas for a harvested cutblock, or
  (b) one or more of the following:
  (i) an extension of time;
  (ii) minor changes to the harvesting method and related practices;
  (iii) minor changes to the location of access structures.
  (3) The signature and seal of a professional forester on a site plan that covers an area larger than the area proposed for harvesting applies to any portion of that site plan that is submitted for approval as a site plan or amendment to a site plan.









Exemptions for harvesting
  22.01 (1) Subject to subsection (3), a holder of a woodlot licence is exempt from section 19 (1) and (1.2) of the Act if the cutting permit being applied for is for the harvesting of bark beetle infested timber, timber damaged by wind or any proposed road construction that is necessary to facilitate such harvesting.
  (2) Despite section 18 of this regulation, the district manager may exempt a holder of a woodlot licence from the requirement to prepare, and obtain the district manager’s approval of, a site plan for an area of proposed harvesting of bark beetle infested timber or timber damaged by wind if
  (a) the estimated volume to be harvested under the exemption is not more than 5 000 m3, and
  (b) the district manager is satisfied that the exemption is necessary to expedite measures to be taken to limit the spread of the bark beetle or prevent deterioration of timber that has been damaged by wind.
  (3) Before the district manager issues a cutting permit referred to in subsection (1), the district manager, by written notice, may require the holder to provide an opportunity for review and comment of the proposed harvesting and road construction associated with the cutting permit.
  (4) The review and comment referred to in subsection (3) must substantially meet the requirements for review and comment described in section 7.









Requirements in an exempted area
  22.02 (1) If a holder of a woodlot licence is exempted under section 22.01 (2), the district manager may require the holder to establish a free growing stand on the area in accordance with section 76 and the requirements of this section.
  (2) If a holder of a woodlot licence is required to establish a free growing stand under subsection (1) then, within 3 years of the commencement of harvesting on the area, the holder must submit to the district manager a map based on a field traverse, identifying the size, shape and location of the area harvested, the location of any access trails to the area and indicating the size and location of the net area to be reforested.
  (3) When preparing the map required under subsection (2), the holder may amalgamate areas that are geographically close if harvesting has taken place over one or more seasons and the district manager agrees that this would simplify future administration.
  (4) When indicating the net area to be reforested under subsection (2), the holder must exclude from the net area to be reforested any access trails to the area, unless the district manager requires the establishment of a free growing stand on the access trail.
  (5) If a holder of a woodlot licence is required to establish a free growing stand under subsection (1), the following silviculture stocking specifications apply and are considered to be the site plan for the area, unless other silviculture stocking specifications are specified or approved by the district manager:
  (a) the preferred species are
  (i) lodgepole pine,
  (ii) spruce, and
  (iii) Douglas-fir if Douglas-fir is present in the area prior to harvesting;
  (b) subalpine fir is an acceptable species if present in the area prior to harvesting;
  (c) for purposes of Division 2 of Part 6, the following apply:
  (i) the silvicultural system approved for the area is other than single tree selection;
  (ii) the regeneration date is 7 years;
  (iii) the free growing date is 15 years;
  (iv) the target stocking standard is 1 200;
  (v) the minimum number of healthy, well spaced trees of the preferred and acceptable species per hectare is 700;
  (vi) the minimum number of healthy, well spaced trees of the preferred species per hectare is 600;
  (vii) the minimum free growing heights by species are
  (A) 2.0 m for lodgepole pine,
  (B) 1.4 m for Douglas-fir, and
  (C) 1.0 m for other species;
  (viii) the height relative to competing vegetation within a 1 m radius of the tree trunk is 150%.
  (6) If a holder of a woodlot licence is exempted under section 22.01 (2), the maximum proportion of the net area to be reforested that may be occupied by soil disturbance is 10%.
  (7) The district manager may authorize a greater amount of soil disturbance than allowed by subsection (6) if
  (a) the disturbance is unavoidable while carrying out the harvesting of bark beetle infested timber or timber damaged by wind, and
  (b) the proposed activities will not cause or increase the risk of damage to other forest resources.
  (8) Section 38 (4) applies as if the maximum limit for soil disturbance established under subsection (6) or (7) was specified in a site plan for the area.

Division 3.1 - Silviculture Prescriptions

Content of silviculture prescriptions
  22.1 (1) A holder of a woodlot licence is exempt from the requirement, under section 12 (d) of the Act, to have a silviculture prescription or amendment signed and sealed by a professional forester, if the prescription or amendment is limited as referred to in section 22 (2) of this regulation.
  (2) Despite section 12 of the Act, a silviculture prescription or amendment need not contain long term management objectives.
  (3) The holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a silviculture prescription contains the following information for the area under the prescription:
  (a) the biogeoclimatic ecosystem classification for the area;
  (b) the total area under the prescription, including areas of rock, water, swamp and any other area whether or not it is capable of growing a stand of trees;
  (c) the net area to be reforested, non-productive areas, any areas of non-commercial forest cover and any reserve areas;
  (d) areas where the regeneration method is planting or natural;
  (e) if the silvicultural system is other than single tree selection, the following stocking specifications:
  (i) the preferred and acceptable species of trees;
  (ii) the minimum allowable horizontal distance between trees of the preferred and acceptable species required for the trees to be considered to be well spaced;
  (iii) the target number of healthy, well spaced trees of the preferred and acceptable species per hectare;
  (iv) the minimum number of healthy, well spaced trees of the preferred and acceptable species required per hectare;
  (v) the minimum number of healthy, well spaced trees of the preferred species required per hectare;
  (vi) the maximum and minimum number of coniferous trees allowed per hectare after a spacing treatment has been carried out under section 81 (3) or (4);
  (vii) the required standards that must be met by a healthy, well spaced tree of a preferred or acceptable species in a free growing stand, including
  (A) the minimum height, and
  (B) the height of the tree relative to competing vegetation within a radius of one metre of the tree trunk;
  (f) if the silvicultural system is single tree selection, the following stocking specifications:
  (i) for all layers, the preferred and acceptable species of trees;
  (ii) for the regeneration, sapling and pole layers, the minimum allowable horizontal distance between trees of the preferred and acceptable species required for the trees to be considered to be well spaced;
  (iii) for all layers, the target number of healthy and well spaced trees of the preferred and acceptable species per hectare;
  (iv) for all layers, the minimum number of healthy, well spaced trees of the preferred and acceptable species required per hectare;
  (v) for all layers, the minimum number of healthy, well spaced trees of the preferred species required per hectare;
  (vi) for the sapling layer, the maximum and minimum number of coniferous trees allowed per hectare after a spacing treatment has been carried out under section 81 (3) or (4);
  (vii) the required standards that must be met by a healthy, well spaced tree of a preferred or acceptable species in a free growing stand, including
  (A) the minimum height for the regeneration, and
  (B) the height of the tree relative to competing vegetation within a radius of one metre of the tree trunk for the regeneration;
  (g) the regeneration date as defined in section 70 of the Act;
  (h) the free growing assessment period as defined in section 70 of the Act;
  (i) the maximum proportion of the net area to be reforested that may be occupied by soil disturbance;
  (j) if temporary access structures will be constructed, the maximum proportion of the net area to be reforested that may be occupied by those temporary access structures;
  (k) actions that will be taken to address the sediment and debris transport potential if the area is a gully on the Coast;
  (l) maps describing the approximate location of
  (i) the area under the prescription, including non-productive areas, any areas of non-commercial forest cover, reserve areas and the net area to be reforested, and
  (ii) the standards units, if any;
  (m) the signature of the holder of the woodlot licence or a person who has authority to sign on behalf of the holder.
  (4) Without limiting subsection (3), the holder of a woodlot licence must ensure that a silviculture prescription describes, for the area under the prescription and the areas adjacent to this area, the following:
  (a) the location of all known resource features, other than archaeological sites, and
  (i) any measures to protect the resource features, or
  (ii) the reason for not protecting the resource features;
  (b) the riparian class of streams, wetlands and lakes;
  (c) if harvesting is proposed for an area that is within a riparian management zone or, in accordance with section 35, a riparian reserve zone,
  (i) whether falling or yarding across streams will be undertaken, and
  (ii) if falling or yarding across streams will be undertaken, the measures for debris management;
  (d) Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 350/2002, Sch. K]
  (e) Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 350/2002, Sch. K]
  (5) The holder of a woodlot licence must ensure, for each riparian management zone within the area under the silviculture prescription, that the prescription specifies the species of trees to be retained within the area and, in relation to those trees, provides the information described in one or more of the following paragraphs:
  (a) the minimum basal area to be retained per hectare;
  (b) the minimum number of trees to be retained, per hectare, that are greater than a specified minimum diameter;
  (c) the minimum number of trees to be retained, per hectare, by diameter class;
  (d) the minimum number of trees to be retained by diameter class, for a specified length of riparian management zone or for the entire riparian management zone;
  (e) other similar indicators of tree retention acceptable to the district manager.
  (6) If the district manager is of the opinion that additional site level information is necessary to adequately manage and conserve the forest resources within the area, the district manager may require that the silviculture prescription include any of the following:
  (a) maps describing the approximate location of
  (i) access structures that will be rehabilitated, and the time frame to complete their rehabilitation,
  (ii) permanent access structures, and
  (iii) harvesting and related forest practices;
  (b) a regime of silviculture treatments intended to produce the target number of healthy, well spaced trees of the preferred and acceptable species per hectare by the end of the free growing assessment period;
  (c) information related to the area occupied by permanent access structures, soil disturbance and the rehabilitation of temporary access structures;
  (d) the results of soil hazard assessments;
  (e) a detailed description of the silvicultural system;
  (f) the stand structure that will be retained at the completion of the proposed harvesting;
  (g) a description of measures to accommodate non-timber forest resources that are not included in the forest development plan;
  (h) a description of measures that will be taken to reduce significant forest health risks;
  (i) with respect to excavated or bladed trails, all of the following:
  (i) a description or map of the areas where excavated or bladed trails may be constructed;
  (ii) the maximum and average height of cutbanks into mineral soil;
  (iii) the equipment to be used for trail construction if other than an excavator;
  (iv) if excavated or bladed trails are proposed for construction in a community watershed, the soil erosion hazard and risk of sediment delivery to streams;
  (v) the time frame to complete rehabilitation of the trails.
  (7) The requirements of subsection (3) (d) to (h) do not apply to the area under a silviculture prescription where the establishment of a free growing stand is not required.
  (8) Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 350/2002, Sch. K]
  (9) Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 350/2002, Sch. K]









Repealed
  22.2   Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 350/2002, Sch. K]

Division 3.2 - Operational Plans for Areas of Unauthorized Harvesting









Operational plans for areas of unauthorized harvesting
  22.3 (1) This section applies when
  (a) the holder of a woodlot licence
  (i) harvests timber in contravention of section 96 of the Act, or
  (ii) without authorization, harvests timber from private land that is subject to the woodlot licence, and
  (b) the holder is required to establish on that area of unauthorized harvesting a free growing stand under section 76 of this regulation.
  (2) The holder of a woodlot licence under subsection (1) must
  (a) prepare an amendment to a site plan or silviculture prescription extending the plan or prescription to include the area of unauthorized harvesting, and obtain the district manager’s approval of that amendment, or
  (b) establish a free growing stand in accordance with a site plan referred to in subsection (3).
  (3) For the purposes of subsection (2) (b), the holder must
  (a) prepare a site plan that has at least the content referred to in section 14 (1) (a) to (g), and
  (b) obtain the district manager’s approval of that site plan,
    and for this purpose a reference in section 14 to “cutblock” or “proposed cutblock” is deemed to be a reference to “area of unauthorized harvesting”.
  (4) A site plan or amendment under this section need not be consistent with the size, shape and location of proposed cutblocks in the forest development plan in effect when the site plan or amendment is submitted for approval, but the site plan or amendment must otherwise be as consistent as possible with the forest development plan.

Division 4 – Stand Management Prescriptions - Repealed










Repealed
  23   Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 201/2002, Sch. D]
 
Repealed
  23.1   Repealed.   [B.C. Reg. 201/2002, Sch. D]

Division 5 – Amendments









Amendments required
  24 (1) A holder of a woodlot licence who has a forest development plan or site plan and knows or ought reasonably to know that performing the operations specified in the plan will not ensure that the results specified in the plan or this regulation will be achieved,
  (a) must submit to the district manager an amendment to the plan, and
  (b) must not carry out any operation under the plan on any parts of the plan area that would be materially affected by the proposed amendment until the amendment has been approved.
  (2) If the requirements of the forest development plan or site plan cannot be met as a result of
  (a) the holder of a woodlot licence carrying out, or failing to carry out, a forest practice on the area covered by the plan, or
  (b) the occurrence of a natural event,
  the holder must

  (c) notify the district manager, and
  (d) if an amendment to the plan is required, not carry out any operation on an area covered by the plan that would be materially affected by the proposed amendment until the amendment has been approved.
  (3) A holder of a woodlot licence who
  (a) exceeds the limits for permanent access structures referred to in section 37 (2) and complies with section 37 (3),
  (b) exceeds the limits for soil disturbance referred to in section 38 (4) and complies with section 38 (4), or
  (c) determines that an area described in a forest development plan as a sensitive slope is not, in fact, a sensitive slope
    is not required to amend the operational plan for the area.
  (4) The holder of a woodlot licence is exempt from the requirements
  (a) to submit a new operational plan under section 35 (1) of the Act,
  (b) to prepare a site plan under section 35 (2) (b) of the Act, or
  (c) to prepare a site plan under section 36 (4) (b) of the Act.
NEW (5) A holder of a woodlot licence who is exempt under subsection (4) must prepare a site plan that conforms to this regulation for the area to which the silviculture prescription applied.NEW









Minor amendments to operational plans
  24.1 (1) For the purposes of section 42.1 (1) (b) of the Act, a proposed amendment to an operational plan meets the prescribed requirements if the proposed amendment will not increase the adverse impact on forest resources and is limited to one or more of the following:
  (a) deletions of proposed cutblocks or roads, or portions of proposed cutblocks or roads, provided that the amendment does not deleteriously impact the forest health of the area;
  (b) minor mapping changes in cutblock or road location resulting from a field traverse having ascertained a more accurate geographic location;
  (c) changes in the areas of a harvested cutblock as a result of a field traverse that provides more accurate areas;
  (d) changes in the year or season of harvest or road construction provided that the timing is not critical to the management of non-timber forest resources;
  (e) changes in the harvesting schedule from current proposed year of harvest to another year, provided the cutblock is under a cutting permit;
NEW (f) changes in proposed roads, including temporary roads, provided that the changes maintain the general pattern and intent of proposed road development access;NEW
  (i) a road exceeding 300 m in length;
  (ii) a road in a riparian reserve zone or a riparian management zone;
  (iii) a road in an area having sensitive slopes;
  (iv) exceeding the maximum limits for the proportion of the cutblock that may be occupied with soil disturbance;
  (g) changes to the locations of roads or cutblocks that are consistent with the approximate location shown in the forest development plan;
  (h) increases in the area of a cutblock, provided that the additional area is outside a riparian reserve zone or an area referred to in section 65 and does not exceed the greater of
  (i) 10% of the cutblock area, or
  (ii) 1 hectare;
  (i) changes in the silvicultural system from a clearcut system to a partial cut system, provided that the changes do not result in
  (i) an increase in the maximum limits for the proportion of the cutblock that may be occupied with soil disturbance,
  (ii) a change to the stocking requirements for the area, or
  (iii) the retention of low value or poor quality timber that will significantly impede the establishment of vigorous regeneration;
  (j) changes to harvesting systems from ground to aerial or cable provided that the changes do not result in an increase in the maximum limits for the proportion of the cutblock that may be occupied by soil disturbance;
NEW (k) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 292/2003, effective August 5, 2003]NEW









District manager actions where
amendments wrongly made
  24.2 (1) The district manager may take the action specified in this section, if
  (a) the holder of a forest development plan, silviculture prescription or site plan has made an amendment to the plan or prescription under section 42.1 (1) of the Act without the approval of the district manager, and
  (b) the district manager considers that the determination by the holder that the amendment met the requirements of that section was wrongly made.
  (2) The district manager, in a written notice to the holder who made the amendment referred to in subsection (1), may request the holder to suspend any operations on the area that are subject to the amendment to the extent that the operations are materially affected by the amendment.
  (3) If the district manager makes a request under subsection (2), the district manager must include reasons for considering that the determination by the holder was wrongly made.
  (4) A request under subsection (2) remains in effect until the earlier of
  (a) the approval of the amendment under section 41 of the Act, and
  (b) the district manager rescinding the request.
  (5) An amendment made under section 42.1 of the Act that is subject to a request under subsection (2) is without effect.
  (6) A holder of a woodlot licence who amends a silviculture prescription under section 42.1 (1) of the Act must provide the district manager with a copy of the amendment to the prescription.









Amendments respecting cutblock information
  25 (1) A holder of a woodlot licence may amend a forest development plan with respect to information referred to in section 14 and 19 that is contained in a forest development plan, including an expired forest development plan referred to in section 9 (3), by providing different information in a site plan.
  (2) Sections 7 and 8 of this regulation do not apply to an amendment under subsection (1).
  (3) A holder of a woodlot licence who has an operational plan, including an expired forest development plan under section 9 (3), that provides for natural regeneration of an area, may plant some or all of the area without requiring an amendment to the plan.
 
Amendments to logging plans
NEW 25.1 A holder of a woodlot licence who holds a logging plan that pertains to an area for which a silviculture prescription or site plan applies is exempt from the requirementsof the Act and this regulation to obtain the approval of an amendment to the logging plan.NEW

Division 6 – Transition









Repealed
  26   Repealed.    [B.C. Reg. 18/2001, Sch. 3]









Repealed
  27   Repealed.    [B.C. Reg. 18/2001, Sch. 3]









Requirement for a site plan – transition
  28 (1) If the forest development plan was approved before the coming into force of this regulation and there is no silviculture prescription approved for the cutblock, before the holder of a woodlot licence harvests timber under a cutting permit, the holder must prepare and obtain approval of a site plan for the cutblock.
  (2) The site plan required under subsection (1) must
  (a) meet the content requirements of section 14 unless exempted by the district manager on the grounds that the exempted information is not necessary to adequately manage and conserve the forest resources, and
  (b) comply with any request of the district manager under section 19.









Requirement for a logging plan – transition
  29 (1) If the silviculture prescription was approved for the cutblock before the coming into force of this regulation and there is no logging plan approved for that cutblock, before the holder of a woodlot licence harvests timber under a cutting permit, the holder must prepare and obtain approval of a logging plan for the cutblock.
  (2) The law as it was immediately before June 15, 1998 with respect to logging plans, including, without limitation, the law respecting offences and administrative remedies related to logging plans, continues to apply to a logging plan referred to in subsection (1), except that
  (a) the provisions set out in sections 106 to 119 of the Forests Statutes Amendment Act, 1997, apply when brought into force,
  (b) a regulation made pursuant to the provisions referred to in paragraph (a) or under the authority of a regulation making power referred to in section 128 or 129 of the Forests Statutes Amendment Act, 1997, applies, and
  (c) an enactment that is made to apply explicitly or by necessary implication, applies.