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
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.
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.
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)
- Forest Stewardship Planning: First Nations Information Sharing (PDF, 121KB)
- Administration of Declared Areas Under Section 14 of the FPPR (PDF, 103KB)
- Interpretive Guidance Respecting Forest Stewardship Plan Questions (PDF, 803KB)
- Administration of Sections 12(3) and 52 of the FPPR: Considerations Regarding Content Requirements for FSPs (PDF, 99KB)
- First Nations Information Sharing Bulletin for Woodlot Licence Planning (PDF, 109KB)
- Transfer of Obligations to Establish a Free Growing Stand under section 29.1 of FRPA (PDF, 111KB)
- Considerations for Making Orders Under Section 9 of FRPA and Section 19 of the FPPR: Cumulative Effect of Multiple FSPs: Proportional Targets (PDF, 98KB)
- Guidance on Administrating a Transition Forest Stewardship Plan (PDF, 45KB)
- Interpretive Guidance Respecting Woodlot License Plans (PDF, 117KB)
- Interpretative Guidance Respecting FSP Questions (PDF, 111KB)
- Removed
- Amending Site Level Information - Ability to Amend Code Site Plans Under FRPA (PDF, 259KB)
- Silviculture Prescription Stocking Standard Amendments (PDF, 273KB)
- FSP Review and Comment Requirements Relative to Tenured Commercial Recreational Operations on Crown Land (PDF, 3.2MB)
- Removed
- Interpretive Guidance Respecting the Extension of Woodlot Licence Plans (PDF, 234KB)
- Collection, Registration, Processing and Distribution of Seed (PDF, 231KB)
- Managing Through Transition - FSP Opportunities (PDF, 75KB)
- Use of the Term "Practicable" under FRPA and Regulations (PDF, 54KB)
- Strategies to Assist FSP Development and Administration in Areas with Established Land Use Objectives (PDF, 108KB)
- The Role of Information and Considerations Influencing Statutory Decision-Makers (SDM) Determinations in the Plan Approval Process (PDF, 95KB)
- Wildlife Habitat Objectives: Considerations Respecting the Content of FSPs (PDF, 120KB)
- Interpreting Section 196 of FRPA for Major Licences and BC Timber Sales (PDF, 127KB)
- Wildlife Tree Retention: Guidance for District and License Staff (PDF, 603KB)
- Managing Visual Resources (PDF, 111KB)
- Beetle Wood Salvage and Visual Quality (PDF, 304KB)
- Forest Health Bulletin (PDF, 116KB)
- Use of Practicable in Results or Strategies (PDF, 58KB)
- Transition Guidance for Licensees Making Cutting Permit and Road Permit Applications (PDF, 408KB)
- Management of Lakeshore Management Zones under FRPA (PDF, 383KB)
- Managing and Tracking Wildlife Tree Retention Areas under FRPA (PDF, 314KB)
- Application of FRPA to Independent Power Producers, Mineral Interests and Other Occupiers of the Land (PDF, 284KB)
- Effects of Orders Made Under FRPA, GAR on FSPs (PDF, 358KB)
- Promoting Co-operative Planning under FRPA (PDF, 415KB)
- Options for Harvesting Dead and Dying Trees along Road Permit Roads (PDF, 162KB)
- Declaration Regarding Free Growing Obligations Met to the Extent Practicable Under FPPR Section 97.1 (PDF, 230KB)
- Managing Section 48 of FRPA - "Natural Range Barriers" (PDF, 472KB)
- An Overview of FSP Extensions (PDF, 173KB)
- Providing Notice of Road Construction or Deactivation Activities in a Community Watershed (PDF, 148KB)
- 20-Year Time Limit for Establishing a Free Growing Stand under Section 44 (1)(b) of the FPPR and the Mechanism for Extending the Late Free Growing Date (PDF, 261KB))
- A Comparison of FSP Results or Strategies Flexibility Options (PDF, 346KB)
- Government May Fund Extra Expenses or Waive Obligations Under FRPA Section 108 and FPPR, Section 96 (PDF, 351KB)
- Adding / Removing / Transferring a Party to / from Existing FSP (PDF, 206KB)
- Guidance to C&E Program Staff on the Assessment of Measurable or Verifiable Results or Strategies Within a Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP) (PDF, 80KB)
- Guidance to C&E Program Staff and Delegated Decision Makers on Interpreting the words "Material Adverse Effect" and "Material Adverse Impact" (PDF, 190KB)
