Managing resource values under the Forest and Range Practices Act

Eleven resource values are identified and protected under the Forest & Range Practices Act (FRPA). The B.C. government is ensuring the sustainable management of the province's forest and range resources by collecting and communicating the best available natural resource monitoring information for each of these values.

On this page:

• The resource values
• Pillars of FRPA
• District Manager Letters of Expectation
• FRPA Bulletins

The resource values

Information on the resource values are collected through series of data collection protocols that are designed and delivered under the Forest & Range Evaluation Program.

The resource values identified under FRPA are:

To protect these resource values, forest and range licensees' activities are governed by FRPA and its regulations during all stages of planning, road building, logging, reforestation and/or grazing. The Forest Planning and Practices Regulation identifies the objectives set by government for each resource value, specifies the content requirements of forest stewardship plans, and stipulates the practice requirements that regulate forestry activities.

Pillars of FRPA

FRPA is based on three pillars:

• Objectives are in place to direct forest licensees to uphold the eleven FRPA values.
• Practice requirements are prescribed forest and range practices that must be outlined in an approved operational plan. These requirements translate established FRPA objectives into sound forest practices on the ground.
• Compliance and Enforcement: Primary forestry activities are inspected by the provincial government for compliance with approved operational plans, FRPA and the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation (FPPR) by the Compliance and Enforcement Branch under the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (the ministry).

These pillars are supported by effectiveness evaluations carried out by the Forest and Range Evaluation Program (FREP). FREP assesses whether the objectives for conserving the FRPA values are being achieved and identifies opportunities for improvement to forest and range practices

In addition to FREP’s effectiveness monitoring, professional reliance helps to achieve FRPA’s objectives and practice requirements on the ground. Registered forest professionals, regulated through the Professional Governance Act, use their unique skillset to manage forests in B.C. to the standards set out in FRPA and the regulation. Professional reliance maintains accountability of the profession by upholding members to bylaws, policies and procedures maintained by the Association of B.C. Forest Professionals.

• Forest Planning and Practices Regulation
• Forest Stewardship Plans
• Forest Range Evaluation Program

District Manager letters of expectation

FRPA encourages innovation through the use of skilled resource professionals (professional reliance). Forest licensees and their professionals are responsible for the outcomes of forestry activities. Through monitoring the impacts on resource values and the use of a vigorous compliance and enforcement program, government ensures a high-quality of forest management.

B.C.'s Chief Forester requested that B.C. government district managers prepare a letter outlining resource management challenges in their natural resource districts. These letters identify best forest management practices to follow and highlight resource value concerns that need special attention.

• Read the district manager letters of expectation when preparing forest stewardship plans

FRPA bulletins

Bulletins consolidate and communicate information on how:

• The legislative language of FRPA and its regulations apply to various situations
• Resource professionals can prepare and meet forest stewardship plan and woodlot licence plan's content requirements
• Certain planning and reporting processes must be completed

The preparation and ongoing revision of these bulletins is outlined in the Procedures Guiding the Development of FRPA Bulletins (PDF, 42KB)