You Own the Forest
A forest is not just a stand of trees, it is also the ecosystem in which they
grow, including the soil, other plants, animals, micro-organisms and the
climate.
The public owns about 95 per cent of the forest in British Columbia with the
majority of the area either a provincial park or Crown forest. As an owner
of the Crown forest, you have a stake in what happens in the forest.
What crimes are committed in our forests?
Thieves take timber that has already been cut, by legitimate loggers, but not
yet hauled away. Or, the thieves cut timber themselves, often from parks
and other protected areas. This logging is illegal, as is selling the
timber, mis-marking the logs or manufacturing them into lumber or other
products.
Vandals frequently damage logging equipment, spike trees, plug culverts,
deliberately set fire to trees or structures. Some vandals wreck Forest
Service campsites or trails.
These are crimes prosecutable under the Forest and Range Practices Act,
the Range Act and the Criminal Code (Canada). These Acts
protect the forest's biodiversity, scenic views, water, soil and the cultural
and heritage aspects of the forests.
Where and When do forest crimes occur?
Illegal activities can take place anywhere and at any time. Illegal
harvest or transport of timber is most likely to occur late in the evening or on
weekends. The location might be at a logging site, in an untouched forest
or park, on our highways during timber transportation, or at a mill processing
facility. Vandalism occurs in active logging areas or at forest recreation sites
and trails.
Burning or damage to forests can happen anywhere in B.C. with the higher
number and size of fires happening during warmer months.
Indeed, most illegal activity in the forests occurs in spring, summer and
fall.
What to look for:
- Suspicious activities in the marine environment along the shoreline.
- Suspicious activities in the woods in the evening and on weekends where
timber is being cut and loaded into pickups or vans.
- Rental vans in the forest where they would not normally be.
- Campfires in locations that they should not be.
- Bright lights on hillsides at night.
- Chainsaws running in the middle of the night or on weekends.
- Anyone damaging logging equipment or spiking trees.
- Anyone damaging a forest service recreation site or trail or
deliberately setting a fire.
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