B.C.'s forestry watchdog has given forest companies and B.C. Timber Sales good marks for protecting important scenic areas east of Prince George.
A Forest Practices Board audit found a good job was done on protecting scenic areas from the impacts of logging in the Valemount area, 300 kilometres east of Prince George.
The only exception in preserving visual quality was in mountain pine beetle-killed areas, where it was sometimes difficult to reduce the visual impact of salvage logging, said board chair Al Gorley.
"Even so, it was apparent that a substantial effort was made to keep the landscape looking as natural as possible, and the board commends the auditees for this," said Gorley.
The audit examined foresty activities and planning on 73 cutblocks within designated scenic areas along the Highway 5 corridor.
Highway 5 passes through areas of exceptional natural scenery and provides access to national and provincial parks.
The companies that were audited were Canfor, Ainsworth, Interfor, Gilbert Smith and the Wells Gray Community Forest.
B.C. Timbers Sales, which sells Crown timber on the open market, was also audited.
To minimize visual impacts, licensees took steps such as incorporating irregular boundaries, edge treatments and natural landscape features into logging-block design.
The Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s performs random audits for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government.
