The Ministry

Legislative authority

The mandate of the Forest Service, as stated in section 4 of the Ministry of Forests Act, is to:

(a) encourage maximum productivity of the forest and range resources in the Province,

(b) manage, protect and conserve the forest and range resources of the Crown, having regard to the immediate and long term economic and social benefits they may confer on the Province,

(c) plan the use of the forest and range resources of the Crown, so that the production of timber and forage, the harvesting of timber, the grazing of livestock and the realization of fisheries, wildlife, water, outdoor recreation and other natural resource values are coordinated and integrated, in consultation and cooperation with other ministries and agencies of the Crown and with the private sector,

(d) encourage a vigorous, efficient and world-competitive timber processing industry in the Province, and,

(e) assert the financial interest of the Crown in its forest and range resources in a systematic and equitable manner.

In addition, the Forest Service is required under the preamble to the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act to manage the forest and range resource to ensure sustainable use, which includes:

(a) managing forests to meet present needs without compromising the needs of future generations,

(b) providing stewardship of forests based on an ethic of respect for the land,

(c) balancing productive, spiritual, ecological and recreational values of forests to meet the economic and cultural needs of peoples and communities, including First Nations,

(d) conserving biological diversity, soil, water, fish, wildlife, scenic diversity and other forest resources, and

(e) restoring damaged ecologies.

The main responsibilities and authorities of the Forest Service are defined in the following provincial legislation:

• Ministry of Forests Act, Revised Statutes of B.C., 1979, Chapter 272
• Forest Act, Revised Statutes of B.C., 1979, Chapter 140
• Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act, Statutes of B.C., 1994, Chapter 41
• Range Act, Revised Statutes of B.C., 1979, Chapter 355

In addition, the following legislation is under the responsibility of the Minister of Forests, but is not directly administered by the Forest Service:

• British Columbia Forest Renewal Act, Statutes of B.C., 1994, Chapter 3
• Forest Land Reserve Act, Statutes of B.C., 1994, Chapter 40
• Foresters Act, Revised Statutes of B.C., 1979, Chapter 141

The Forest Service also has administrative responsibilities under:

• the Boom Chain Brand Act, Revised Statutes of B.C., 1979, Chapter 33
• the Forest Stand Management Fund Act, Revised Statutes of B.C., 1986, Chapter 8

Mandate implementation

To implement its mandate, the Forest Service:

• provides mandatory provincial and regional requirements through legislation for forest practices,
• provides site-specific guidance on the requirements of the Forest Practices Code, and places those requirements in forest plans, prescriptions and contracts,
• monitors and enforces the requirements of the Forest Practices Code,
• works in partnership with other agencies to renew and revitalize the province's forests, forest workers and forest-dependent communities,
• grows healthy, productive forests to meet the province's social and economic needs,
• manages and protects Crown forest lands to ensure sustainable development of:
• timber for the forest industry
• forage for the livestock industry
• protection of non-timber values,
• provides forest recreation and manages wilderness values in provincial forests,
• collects resource revenues from the Crown's forest and range resources through stumpage, rents and fees,
• encourages value-added manufacturing,
• requires reforestation of Crown forest lands,
• conducts research in forest renewal, forest productivity and decision aids, and integrated resource management,
• protects the province's forest and range resources from damage by fire, forest insects and diseases,
• maintains a current and accurate inventory of forest and range values,
• consults with First Nations to ensure that aboriginal rights are not infringed by forest management activities,
• works with First Nations and industry to increase the involvement of aboriginal peoples in the forest sector,
• informs various audiences about the Forest Service's mandates, goals and organization, and
• ensures the best balance of all resource values through integrated resource management.

Integrated resource management is a process that:

• identifies and considers all resource values,
• assigns resource use and management emphasis based on an evaluation of land and resource management options developed from biophysical, social and economic factors,
• is guided by the principles of sustainable use and resource stewardship,
• produces a picture of resource uses and priorities for large areas, and
• selects the best uses for the present, and schedules resource use changes over time.

To achieve integrated resource management, the Forest Service:

• fairly and equitably considers social, economic and environmental factors,
• ensures consistency in resource management between government agencies by working cooperatively to deliver integrated resource management programs, and
• works closely with the public to define land and resource use priorities.

Guiding principles

As stewards of the province's forest and range resources, the Forest Service follows these principles:

• We earn and maintain public trust and confidence through sound program and fiscal management.
• We strive for the wise, balanced use and protection of all forest resources.
• Our employees are our most important asset.
• Employees are:
• trusted and respected,
• empowered and supported,
• recognized and consulted, and
• trained and developed.
• Our actions and decisions contribute to an equitable, safe, healthy and satisfying work environment.
• We work together as a team within and between our functional and geographical boundaries while respecting each other's roles.
• We encourage initiative, take risks, learn from our mistakes, and build on our successes.
• We communicate in an appropriate, open, honest and timely manner.
• Our actions match our words; we accept personal accountability for demonstrating integrity.
• We are open and responsive to changing values and concerns.
• We consult with and inform clients.
• We provide high-quality service.

Reports

The Ministry of Forests Act requires the Forest Service to prepare:

• a periodic resource analysis describing the conditions, management and future uses of the forest and range resources to enable informed setting of overall priorities and long-term objectives,
• a five-year program, updated annually, that sets the schedules, methods and priorities for forest and range resource management and improvements, and
• an annual report that reviews the use and management of resources, the effects of the ministry's programs, and the performance of the ministry with respect to the five-year program.

Ministry reorganization

When the Ministry of Forests Act (1979) was introduced, one of the ministry's goals was to supply timber to develop and maintain the province's timber-based economy. While its legal mandate has not changed, its organizational structure has changed significantly, reflecting changes in government, public priorities, and ministry expectations.

The Ministry of Forests Report on Reorganization, released early in 1994, was the ministry's response to changing public demands, environmental concerns, changing market expectations, and new legislation - particularly the Forest Practices Code.

Foremost among the report's recommendations was a realignment of divisional responsibilities to streamline and prevent duplication between line and staff functions, and to deliver services more efficiently. Other recommendations addressed accountability at branch, region and district levels, and the need to increase the level of resources devoted to land management. During the reorganization, more than 200 full-time equivalents (FTEs) and associated financial resources were reallocated to the districts from headquarters and regional offices.

Structural and functional details included:

• maintaining the basic ministry structure (branches, regions and districts),
• modifying district organizational structures,
• establishing a Land Information Management (LIM) function at all three levels of the organization, including a new branch (Business Design Branch),
• establishing an Enforcement Branch in support of the Forest Practices Code, and
• establishing an Aboriginal Affairs Branch in support of interim measures and the treaty process.

New reporting relationships are shown in detail in the ministry organizational diagram on pages 22 and 23.

An integral part of the implementation and maintenance of the Forest Practices Code, the ministry reorganization will be completed by December 31, 1995.