GENERAL AWARENESS TRAINING

BCTS SFM Commitments

BC Timber Sales is committed to managing and administering forest management activities on our operations through effective measures that ensure sustainable forest management (SFM). The BCTS SFM Policy includes commitments to:

• Comply with legislation, regulations, policies and other requirements:• Provide public participation opportunities to the public and Aboriginal

Peoples;• Confer with, respect and recognize Aboriginal title and rights, and treaties:• Maintain a culture for health and safety of staff, clients and the public;• Honour all international agreements and conventions to which Canada is a

signatory;• Improve knowledge of the forest and SFM and to monitor and incorporate

advances in science and technology;• Promote awareness of SFM to our clients and the public; • Strive for excellence in forest management through continual improvement.

BCTS Sustainable Forest Management Plan

Encompass environmental, economic and social dimensions Outlines the Principles and Objectives of the 2010-2014 Sustainable

Forestry Initiative (SF) Standard Sets out BCTS Commitments and Actions to achieve conformance with

the SFI Standard

Sustainable Forestry Initiative Program

Continuous improvement was applied to refine the previous SFI Standard

System of principles, objectives and performance measures

Long-term protection of wildlife, plants, soil and water quality

SFI Program Participants must comply with the SFI Standard

Principles address economic, environmental, cultural and legal issues

Commitment to continuously improve SFM

SFI Objectives are delivered through our EMS

Requires continuous improvement EMS and SFI programs ensure that

forest management activities and timber harvesting are well managed

SFI Program Participants must comply with all portions of the SFI Standard relevant to their operations,

SFI Standard

Applies to all forest lands in North America

Some of the applicable laws and regulations in BC and Canada include:

• BC Forest Act

• BC Forest and Range Practices Act

• Canadian Species at Risk Act

SFI program does not try to duplicate mandatory sustainable forestry legislation and processes

SFI Standard purposefully focuses on continual improvement

SFI Standard

SFI Objectives

Best Management

Practices

SFI Principles

SFI Principles

In this section you will learn about the Principles for Sustainable Forestry.

Principles 1 - 7

SFI Principles

1. Sustainable Forestry2. Forest Productivity and Health3. Protection of Water Resources4. Protection of Biological Diversity5. Aesthetics and Recreation6. Protection of Special Sites7. Responsible Fibre Sourcing Practices

Principles 8 - 14

SFI Principles

8. Avoidance of Controversial Fibre Sources9. Legal Compliance10. Research11. Training and Education12. Public Involvement13. Transparency (of audit findings)14. Continual Improvement

SFI Objectives

In this section you will learn about the Objectives for Sustainable Forestry.

Objectives for Sustainable Forestry

SFI Objectives

• Some Program Participants own forestland, others own forestland and manufacturing facilities, and still others own manufacturing facilities only

• SFI Program Participants must comply with all portions of the standard that are relevant to their operations

Objectives for Sustainable Forestry

SFI Objectives

SFIS objectives 1-7 provide measures for forest land management.

SFIS objectives 8 – 13 provides measures for fibre sourcing. These objectives do not apply to BCTS

SFIS objectives 14-20 provide measures for research, training, legal compliance, public and landowner involvement, communication and public reporting, management review, and continual improvement.

Objective 1: Forest Management Planning

SFI Objectives

To broaden implementation of sustainable forestry by ensuring long-term forest productivity and yield based on the use of the best scientific information available.

Objective 2: Forest Productivity

SFI Objectives

To ensure long-term forest productivity, carbon storage, and conservation of forest resources through prompt reforestation, soil conservation, afforestation, and other measures.

Objective 3: Protection and Maintenance of Water Resource

SFI Objectives

To protect water quality in rivers, streams, lakes, and other water bodies

Objective 4: Conservation of Biological Diversity including Forests of Exceptional Conservation

Value

SFI Objectives

To manage the quality and distribution of wildlife habitats and contribute to the conservation of biological diversity by developing and implementing stand and landscape level measures that promote habitat diversity and the conservation of forest plants and animals, including aquatic species.

Objective 5: Management of Visual Quality and Recreational Benefits

SFI Objectives

To manage the visual impact of forest operations and provide recreational opportunities for the public.

Objective 6: Protection of Special Sites

SFI Objectives

To manage lands that are ecologically, geologically or culturally important in a manner that takes into account their unique qualities.

Objective 7: Efficient Use of Forest Resource

SFI Objectives

To promote the efficient use of forest resources

Objectives 8-13: Fibre Sourcing Objectives

SFI Objectives

Relate to wood procurement activities by SFI Program Participants

Not Applicable to BCTS

Objective 14: Legal and Regulatory Compliance

SFI Objectives

Compliance with applicable federal, provincial and local laws and regulations.

Objective 15: Forest Research, Science and Technology

SFI Objectives

To support forestry research, science and technology upon which sustainable forest management decisions are based

Objective 16: Training and Education

SFI Objectives

To improve the implementation of sustainable forestry practices through appropriate training and education programs.

Objective 17: Community Involvement in the Practice of Sustainable Forestry

SFI Objectives

To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry by encouraging the public and forestry community to participate in commitment to sustainable forestry, and publicly report progress

Objective 18: Public Land Management Responsibilities

SFI Objectives

To promote and implement sustainable forest management on public lands

Objective 19: Communications and Public Reporting

SFI Objectives

To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry by documenting progress and opportunities for improvement

Objective 20: Management Review and Continual Improvement

SFI Objectives

To promote continual improvement in the practice of sustainable forestry, and to monitor, measure, and report performance in achieving the commitment to sustainable forestry

Best Management

Practices

In this section you will learn about the BCTS Best

Management Practices (BMPs) that are currently available.

BCTS is certified to the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) standard. BCTS SFI Best Management Practices (BMPs) include EMS Operational Controls, such as:

Environmental Operating Procedures (EOPs)

Environmental Field Procedures (EFPs)

Forms and Checklists

Environmental Emergency Response Plans (eERPs)

Local Operational Controls

Adherence to BCTS SFI BMPs will ensure activities are conducted in a manner that is consistent with the BCTS SFM and Environmental Policies.

BCTS SFI BMPs

EOPs and EFPs provide workers with Best Management Practices to be followed for the following types of activities:

EOPs Planning, LP Operations, BCTS Projects , LWCP Planning and Operations, Incident Reports.

EFPs General, Project Supervision, Development and Planning, Roads, Bridges and Culverts, Harvesting, Fuel Handling, Dryland Sort, Marine Log Handling Facilities

EOPs and EFPs are located on the BCTS EMS Websites maintained by Business Areas (BAs) : http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/bcts/areas/

BCTS SFI BMPs

In addition to EOPs and EFPs, BCTS BAs have developed additional Best Management Practices that apply locally:

Examples include:

Standard Operating Procedures, Heavy Rainfall Shutdown (Skeena BA)

Water Disruption Emergency Response Plan for Community and Domestic Consumptive Use Watersheds for BCTS Client Use (Kootenay BA)

Ground Based Harvesting Guidelines (Strait of Georgia BA)

For a complete list of BCTS Provincial and local EMS /SFM-related BMPs, see the BCTS BA Certification web pages

BCTS SFI BMPs

Summary

One of the significant objectives is to show continuous improvement throughout all of the aspects of the program

Training sessions in both the EMS and SFI programs ensure staff, licensees and contractors are kept up-to-date

Ensures that our forest management activities and the timber we sell will have undergone stringent oversight

Adherence to BCTS SFI BMPs will ensure activities are conducted in a manner that is consistent with the BCTS SFM and Environmental Policies.

You have now completed the

Sustainable Forestry Initiative General Awareness

Training

Congratulations!