Mainland Coast North and Central

The Mainland Coast Forest Operation North and Central Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP) encompasses forest tenures located within the Coast Mountain and North Island-Central Coast Natural Resource Districts.  This FSP applies to the licensees and tenures identified in Section 3.1 of the FSP.  This FSP incorporates the Great Bear Rainforest Land Use Order (GBR Order) dated June 9, 2023, that contains elements of ecosystem-based management.

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 government before taking effect.  FSPs do not show cutblocks and roads for approval.

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 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.

This FSP also must be consistent with government objectives set out, for instance, in Land Act orders or Government Actions Regulation orders.The FSP contains one Forest Development Unit (FDU), comprising the WFP forest tenure areas within the South Central Coast portion of the GBR Order, as shown in the FDU overview map in this FSP.  The FDU constrains the area where an FSP holder may apply for road and cutting permits, which provide the authority to harvest.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.

Comments should be directed to:

Western Forest Products Inc.
Mainland Coast Operations
Bruce Vinnedge, RPF
Sr. Silviculture Forester
fsp@westernforest.com