Forest Operations Plan

On this page

• Background of the Forest Operations Plan
• Preparing a FOP
• Engagement on a draft FOP
• Approving a FOP
• Operating under an approved FOP
• Amended sections of the Forest and Range Practices Act and Forest Planning and Practices Regulation
• Resources for Forest Practitioners

Background of the Forest Operations Plan

Recent amendments to the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) and Forest Planning and Practices Regulation (FPPR) have introduced Forest Landscape Planning (FLP) as the new planning framework for forest management in B.C. The FLP framework and its components account for FRPA values and address forest management challenges at the landscape level. This framework will replace the current Forest Stewardship Planning (FSP) regime over time.

Forest Landscape Plans (FLPs) will be prepared by the Province in partnership with First Nations, in collaboration with licencees and local communities, and with input from local stakeholders. The FLP is legally binding and sets clear direction for forest development within the plan area. The Chief Forester may establish a FLP alone or together with shared decision-makers.

Preparing a FOP

Forest Operation Plans are mandatory only for forest landscape areas where there is an established FLP. After a FLP has been established, agreement holders must obtain an approved FOP before applying for cutting or road permits to conduct operations.

Agreement holders with an approved FSP before the establishment of a FLP can continue to operate for periods specified in FRPA. Once the prescribed period elapses, they must submit and hold an approved FOP in order to continue operations. However, cutting or road permits issued under an approved FSP will continue to be subject to the FSP provisions and unaffected by FOP requirements.

FOP content requirements

The FOP must include the following content:

• Identification of a Forest Operations Area (including a FOP map)
• Requirements addressing forest practices, silvicultural systems, and stocking standards for the Forest Operations Area
• Each proposed FOP holders' business contact information
• Existing and proposed cutblocks and roads
• Commencement years for operations in the proposed cutblocks and roads
• Unique identifiers for proposed cutblocks, roads, and the FOP
• Copies of assessments required by planning guidelines
• Stocking standards with applicable regeneration dates and free growing heights
• Dates of submission, approval, amendment, expiry, and extension

FOP mapping requirements

The proposed FOP must contain a map including the following features:

• Landscape features
  • Elevation, relief, bodies of water, etc.
• Agreement boundaries and land use designations
  • Boundaries of all areas under a proposed FOP holder’s agreement, areas subject to a statutory order, other areas of land use
• Areas subject to harvesting constraints (through the FLP or legislation/regulations)
  • Approximate locations and boundaries of areas where timber harvest is limited or prohibited
• Cutblock information for both proposed and existing cutblocks
• Road information for both existing and proposed roads

Engagement on a draft FOP

Engagement with First Nations

Before submitting their FOP for approval, holders must engage with First Nations that may be impacted by their plan and provide information that includes:

• FOP holders’ contact information
• FOP information (FOP term, submission date, activities to take place under the FOP, etc.)
• FLP outcomes and their associated planning guidelines and substituted requirements

Proposed holders must make the FOP available in both digital and paper formats for First Nations to review. Copies of any assessment(s) required by planning guidelines must be provided to the First Nations upon request. The proposed FOP holders must also offer to meet with the First Nations to discuss the plan or amendment.

The FOP holder must submit information detailing their engagement with First Nations to the government.

Public review and comment

Notice requirements

The proposed FOP holder must publish a notice on a publicly accessible website and in either a newspaper or the BC Gazette. The notice informs the public and interested parties of the FOP’s availability for review and comment. The notice will include:

• FOP holders’ contact information
• FOP information (FOP term and submission date, activities to take place under the FOP, etc.)
• FLP outcomes and their associated planning guidelines and substituted requirements
• Time available for public review and comment

Review and comment period

Starting from the date stated in the notice, the review and comment period spans:

• 60 days for the FOP and any amendments made to the plan
• 30 days for a FOP amendment not requiring the government’s approval
• A period no less than 10 days for either the FOP or a FOP amendment in emergency situations where a longer period is likely to cause an increased risk of public safety, increased risk of wildfire, or an unreasonable impact on appropriate management and conservation of the forest and its ecosystems

During the review and comment period, the FOP or amendment must be made available in digital and in-person formats. Copies of assessments required by planning guidelines must be provided to a member of the public upon request. The proposed FOP holder must also notify individuals whose rights could be affected by the FOP. Affected rights-holders may request an extended review and comment period to a maximum total of 60 days.

The proposed FOP holder must submit information detailing the public review and comment process to the government.

Approving an FOP

Approval of FOPs may only occur if the plan meets specified criteria outlined in FRPA and the FPPR.  A FOP may be inconsistent with an FLP only in certain circumstances and if practicable, must include substitute planning requirements.

Proposed FOP holders may be required to deactivate a road as a condition of FOP approval. This condition may occur only under circumstances specified in the FPPR.

FOP exemptions from practice requirements

The FOP holder may be exempted from FPPR practice requirements. This may only occur if the holder has specified planning guidelines or additional measures that address the same subject matter as the FPPR requirements equally or more effectively.

Operating under an approved FOP

FOP Extensions

Extensions of the FOP can occur in certain circumstances outlined in the FPPR. Extensions may be granted before or after the FOP’s expiry.

Extensions of two years or less may be granted on one or more instances if more time is required to conclude consultation with First Nations on the new FOP. This extension, if granted, must not extend beyond two years following the plan’s original date of expiry.

Extensions of a year or less may be granted on one or more instances for FOP holders in possession of a non-replaceable timber license. Such an extension may be granted if all the conditions listed under FPPR s. 4.42 are met. This extension shall not extend past one year following the plan’s original date of expiry.

FOP amendment processes

Amendments that require approval

All amendments that result in a material change to the FOP require the government’s approval unless the regulations provide otherwise. The engagement process for this amendment procedure follows the same course as that of a FOP. After an amendment becomes effective, FOP holders are required to update the plans accordingly to reflect the changes.  

Mandatory amendments

In specific situations (under FRPA s. 2.45 and FPPR ss. 4.47 and 4.48), a proposed FOP holder has a mandatory requirement to submit an amendment that requires the government’s approval.

Mandatory amendments follow the same engagement processes as other amendments that require engagement and approval with applicable First Nations and are subject to a public review and comment period of 60 days.

A proposed holder will be exempt from mandatory amendments if:

• They have already submitted a new FOP with six months or more left on their current FOP term
• They have less than six months remaining in their current FOP term

Amendments that do not require approval

In specific situations (under FPPR s. 4.43) where a change to a FOP is considered non-material, an amendment can be made that will not require the government's approval. However, the FOP holder must make reasonable efforts to engage with impacted First Nations regarding the amendment. The holder must also make the amendment available for public review and comment period of 30 days.

The amendment will take effect 30 days following the FOP holder’s submission of required documents, which are listed under FPPR s. 4.44.  Within the 30 day period, the government can make the amendment subject to approval if there are risks to public health and safety, the environment, or a cultural heritage resource.

Updates to basic information

Changes to basic administrative information on a FOP require neither the government’s approval nor engagement.

Changes to basic information include:

• Adding the date of approval and/or expiry of the FOP or amendment
• Adding the date on which an extension to the FOP was issued
• Changing the FOP holder’s business hours and business contact information

Annual Forest Development Schedules

The Annual Forest Development Schedule (AFDS) is a tool for FOP holders to publicly communicate pending operations. The schedule outlines proposed timber harvest or road construction over the upcoming year for the approved FOP term.

Notification and review

The FOP holder must publish the notice on a publicly accessible website and in either a newspaper or the BC Gazette. The holder must also provide specific notice to individuals whose rights may be impacted by the schedule’s activities.

The annual forest development schedule must be available throughout the calendar year to which it applies. The schedule must be available for review both on a public website and in paper form at the holder’s place of business.

Site level plans

The FOP holder is required to prepare a site level plan that includes:

• Site-specific details related to harvest or road construction
• A map that includes features such as water resources, elevation, and relief, cutblocks and roads
• Silvicultural obligations that the plan holder is required to fulfill

The plan holder must publish notice on a publicly accessible website and make the plan available to the public upon request.  A site level plan may not be required for certain cutblocks or roads in circumstances prescribed in the FPPR.

Amended Sections of the Forest and Range Practices Act and Forest Planning and Practices Regulation

Repealed:

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Amended:

FPPR

• FPPR Section 44 (1) is amended by adding section 4.14 (specifying stocking standards in forest operations plan)
• FPPR Section 106.2 is amended by adding subsection (1.1) and repealing/replacing subsection (3)
• FPPR Section 45 (a) and (b) are amended (including references to forest operations plan and section 4.14) [specifying stocking standards in forest operations plan]

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Added:

Resources for Forest Practitioners

• FRPA Facts - Forest Operations Plan (PDF, 241KB)
• Forest Landscape Plans
• Forest Landscape Plans FAQ