Forest Stewardship Plan
Port McNeill and Quatsino Sound
FSP – TFL 6 (Port McNeill and Quatsino Sound)
Port McNeill and Quatsino Sound 2023 – 2028
The Port McNeill and Quatsino Sound Forest Operations 2023-2028 Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP) encompasses forest tenures located on Vancouver Island, in the vicinity of Port McNeill, Port Alice, Holberg, Winter Harbour, Port Hardy, Coal Harbour and Quatsino Sound.
This FSP applies to the licensees and tenures identified in Section 3.0 of the FSP. This FSP replaces the 2018 North Vancouver Island Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP), as maintained in the BC government FSP Tracker system.
Information & Context
Context
FSPs are a key operational plan under the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA). FSPs identify broad areas called Forest Development Units (FDUs) where timber harvesting and road construction may occur, are subject to public review and comment, and must be approved by the government before taking effect.
FSPs do not show cut blocks and roads for approval and are generally in effect for a 5-year term.
Providing Comments
Comments should be directed to:
Western Forest Products
Port McNeill Forest Operation
Jim McDowell, RPF, TFL 6 Planning Manager
Forest Development Units (FDUs)
This FSP addresses objectives specified in the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA). For each of the 11 FRPA values and their objectives set by the government, such as wildlife and biodiversity, the FSP identifies legally binding results and strategies, forest practices, measures, and standards, which will be required to be implemented by the Holder of the FSP in the forest development units. Results and strategies must be consistent with government objectives and must be measurable and verifiable. The FSP also must be consistent with government objectives set out in Land Use Plans, such as the Vancouver Island Land Use Plan, and sub-unit plans, such as approved Landscape Unit Plans.
The FSP has one FDU, as shown on the overview map in this FSP, which encompasses the active plan area. The FSP shows the location of the FDU and forms the basis for the future development of roads and cut blocks, leading to the issuance of road and cutting permits, which provide authority to harvest.
Stewardship
Forest Stewardship initiatives by Western Forest Products do not end at the FSP. The FSP forms only one part of the overall forest stewardship and due diligence process.
Examples of other sustainability initiatives by Western include its Environmental Management System and Forest Certification, Standard Operating Procedures, Forest Investment Account administration, and TFL Management Plans.
In addition to the legal framework in the FSP, other regulatory requirements are outside the FSP, such as the Heritage Conservation Act, Wildlife Act, Foresters Act, Land Act, Federal Species at Risk Act, Federal Fisheries Act, and First Nations case law. More information on FSPs and the public and First Nations input process is available here.
FSP Documents
Notice to the Reader
The FSP title now refers to TFL 6, formerly the Port McNeill and Quatsino Sound Forest Operation.
This amendment applies specifically to the Gwa’ni Land Use Objectives Order, as applied to the Lower Nimpkish Landscape Unit. The FSP Forest Development Unit (FDU) intersects the Lower Nimpkish Landscape Unit in the vicinity of Port McNeill. FSP sections 6.7.3 – Late Successional Habitat Elements and Attributes of Biodiversity – Special Management
Zones and 6.8.2 – Stand Level Retention have highlighted changes.
FSP s. 3.2 has also been modified to eliminate Forest Practices Code Act transition references and Forest Planning and Practices Regulation s. 14(4) declarations. These changes are administrative, and do not affect Results or Strategies in the FSP.