The PFLA represents managed forest owners across the province of BC, from the coast to the interior, the large to the small, the veteran forester to the novice tree farmer.
The PFLA participates in the public policy process to ensure government policy is fair, environmentally sound, fiscally responsible and respectful of private property rights.
The PFLA offers workshops and events to foster responsible forest management that supports the protection of key public environmental values.
PFLA members are leaders in private forest research and innovation, pioneering many of today’s most innovative harvesting and silviculture practices.
Although private forest land accounts for a small percentage of the province’s land base (2%), it plays a significant role in the lives of British Columbians.
Of the 2% of land in British Columbia that is private forest land, 51% is managed forest land, 22% is forested farmland and 27% is forested residential.
Section 31 (3) of the Private Managed Forest Land Council Regulation requires owners to reforest harvested areas within five years, but a recent audit report found planting is generally completed within one or two years.
The focus of private forest landowners in the Managed Forest Program is protecting key public environmental values—fish habitat, water quality, soil productivity, critical wildlife habitat and the growing of trees.
Social values, such as visual quality and biodiversity are protected on the public lands that make up over 95% of British Columbia. That said, PFLA members and other private landowners often go out of their way to manage their lands with consideration for these social values.
In total, Private Managed Forest Lands are bound by over 35 different legislative regulations, including:
* Federal Fisheries Act
* Forest Management Regulation
* Water Sustainability Act
* Drinking Water Protection Act
* Private Managed Forest Land Regulation
* Wildlife Act
* Species at Risk Act
* Soil Conservation Act
* Professional Governance Act (formerly Foresters Act)
The theme of National Forest Week this year is “Two-Eyed Seeing: Welcoming all knowledge to sustain our forests.” This theme is an important one for the PFLA and our members and our continued focus on sustainable forest management.
Extended dry spells during summer lead to a build-up of substances like oil, grease, rubber, and tar on road surfaces. When the rain begins, this build-up rises to the surface, making roads very slippery.
Recent rains are allowing the Coastal Fire Centre to ease the campfire ban effective noon on Wednesday, Aug. 28. Campfires measuring no more than a half metre by half metre will be allowed across the entire Coastal Fire Centre, including all of Vancouver Island.
