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The series consists of records created by the Ministry of Forests (1976-1986), the Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988) and the Ministry of Forests (1988-). Records date from 1977-1994.

The series includes nine different types of computer output microfiche (COM) reports that are arranged by year. Within each year, each type is filed separately, and subdivided by forest district (1977-1978) or forest region (1979-present), if applicable. Districts/regions include: Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Kamloops, Prince George, Nelson and Cariboo.

The records include the following: piece scale invoices, weight scale invoices, weight scale ratio report, appraisal code sheets, mark rate report, mark royalty reports, road ledger, scaler ledger and species ledger. These records are generated by scale and royalty billing activities. It is a requirement of the Forest Act ( SBC 1978, c. 23) that all timber be scaled.

There are two primary methods of scaling used in the Province: piece scale and weight scale. Piece scale involves the measurement of each log harvested. This method is normally used in coastal areas where the logs are larger and not uniform in size. Weight scale is a sampling method where selected loads of logs over a period of time are piece scaled and this data is then used to estimate the volume of all other weighed loads. This method is used primarily in the interior of the Province and was introduced in 1963. It is generally used for large volumes of smaller logs that are uniform in size. Other scaling methods may be used for small volumes of special products, for example, Christmas trees or fence posts.

Until 1985, scalers were employees of the Ministry of Forests, with some limited exceptions. After privatization, the Ministry retained responsibility for examination, appointment, and licensing of scalers. The Ministry is now responsible for authorizing scale sites and conditions, designating which scale timber should go to, establishing scale computation and data controls and ensuring compliance with regulations. The requirements for scaling are outlined in part 6 of the Forest Act and the Scaling Regulations. Additional information is contained in the Scaling Manual and Ministry of Forests scaling policies. The Scaling Manual provides specific instructions on how scale will be measured and calculated and which records must be submitted.

Piece and weight scale invoices are generated from the data collected from the two different types of scaling. They document the amount of royalties owing by each account holder. The two types are kept separately and arranged by forest district/region and consecutive account number. Piece scale invoices are identified with a code beginning with P followed by a letter for the region. Weight scale invoices are identified with a code beginning with W followed by a letter for the region. The letters used for the regions are: V or W (effective May 1982) for Vancouver; R for Prince Rupert; K for Kamloops; G for Prince George; N for Nelson and C for Cariboo. Invoice numbers which are missing were used for manual billing, a practice which ended in the early 1980's.

Ratio reports are the ratios in effect for the month and that are used for processing Weight Scale billing. Ratios are determined by the sample loads that are scaled.

Appraisal code sheets contain information about timber marks. This information is used to determine stumpage rates for billing purposes. These records date from 1979-1982. They have been replaced by the General Appraisal System.

Mark reports include information about rates, appraisals, and other administrative information about each timber mark. These are monthly reports.

Mark royalty reports include rate information for each class of royalty by species/product/grade. Combined with scale data this will determine which rates are used for each royalty type.

Road ledgers were set up to amortise, over time, specific forestry and road costs as part of the timber the late 1970 's and 1980's. These invoices reflect a credit to stumpage associated with the amortisation amount related to either a piece or weight scale invoice.

There are separate ledgers for piece scale invoices and weight scale invoices; each ledger is subdivided by forest district/region. The code used to identify a piece scale road ledger is K followed by a letter representing the district/region. The codes used to identify a weight scale road ledger is L followed by a letter for the district/region. The records date from 1979 to 1985.

There are two types of species ledgers, monthly and yearly. These reports list the log volumes billed by species on each invoice. The monthly report is organized by district/region and timber mark. The yearly report is organized by region and timber mark. The yearly report also includes year to date reports.

A timber mark indicates the property on which the logs were cut. The scalers' ledger is a list of the volume and value scaled by each scaler and is arranged by scaler licence number.

These records are found in secondaries 20340-20, 20390-20, 20390-50 and 21330-20 in the Ministry of Forests ORCS, schedule number 881261.

The series consists of records relating to the development of land and resource management plans (LRMPs) vis-à-vis the consultation that occurred with First Nations during the planning process. Land and Resource Management Planning was developed in British Columbia in the 1990s as an integrated, sub-regional, consensus-building process to produce plans for review and approval by government. The plans established direction for land use and specified broad resource management objectives and strategies. LRMPs covered a number of resource sectors -- natural or social resources such as tourism, forestry or mining. The process included development, implementation, monitoring and the amendment of land and resource management plans.

The files in this series were titled and organized in most instances as case files and based on the name of the First Nations involved in the consultation process.

The records relate to the development of the consultation process between ministries and First Nation groups for LRMPs which included preparing terms of reference, conducting research and assessments, compiling and analyzing data, consulting with interested parties, presenting plan drafts, taking the proposed plan through the approval process, and monitoring after implementation.

Record types include correspondence, memoranda, recommendations including legal advice, discussion papers, draft agreements for discussion, presentations, community meeting records, maps, plans, drafts of agreements between the Province and First Nations, briefing notes prepared for the Minister and Deputy Minister, forest company information, among numerous other types of records.

The Archives has retained these records because they provide evidence of provincial policy advice and direction for the management of public lands and resources, and evidence of the consultation that occurred with First Nations groups during the resource planning process.

Series consists of silviculture opening records created by the South Vancouver Island district and its predecessor the Port Alberni Forest district from 1943-2008. The ministry defines silviculture as “the art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs and values of landowners and society on a sustainable basis.” These files document the historical silviculture treatment work that has been undertaken on specific areas of land that are referred to as openings.

The files may contain a wide variety of record formats including textual records, photographs and maps. The textual records include computer printouts, photocopies, cards, reports and correspondence. Pre-1980 documents are usually photocopies but there are also many original documents from those years.

Most files are quite small. They usually consist of a map of the area and a computer printout titled the History of Crop Establishment and Tending. These computer printouts are dated from 1986 or 1990. They provide a history of crop establishment and tending and provide information regarding prescriptions, site preparations, reforestation and stand tending.

There are also larger files that contain a variety of other documents. These include prescription documents (which provide the management plan for the area), stand tending cards and reports (that show what forest treatments were taken), traverse sheets (that provide location information), pruning examination cards and printouts, planting reports, final harvesting reports, site preparation reports. Pre-1970 documents usually consist of copies of logging inspection reports.

The files are arranged numerically by a classification number. The first part of that number corresponds with the National Topographic System location codes and the second part of the number consists of a sequential number applied to each file.

Ministries responsible for the creation of this series, and the dates of the responsibility, are:

Dept. of Lands 1943-1945
Dept. of Lands and Forests 1945-1962
Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources 1962-1975
Dept. of Forests 1975-1976
Ministry of Forests 1976-1986
Ministry of Forests and Lands 1986-1988
Ministry of Forests 1988-2005
Ministry of Forests and Range 2005-2010

Classified as 18750-20 in the Forests Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).

The records in this series document the development of Land and Resource Management Plans and provide evidence of the nature and evolution of the planning process.

The records are mainly organized by topic and region. They cover discussions on specific areas and subjects of concern, such as wildlife, tourism, recreation and conservation. Many of the files include discussions about existing legislation to guide plan development. The records also include other reference material such as documents related to the Protected Areas Strategy with summaries of different forest districts, literature reviews, studies, reports (particularly those about the Protected Areas Designation Process) and interim management direction statements from BC Parks. Many files relate to the LRMP table discussing possibilities to designate new protected areas through land use planning. The records also include various working group plans and recommendations, framework plans for a coordinated approach to planning, as well as guidelines to help participants write these plans.
There are also several folders organized by Resource Management Zone (RMZ) with printouts of maps depicting the area, as well as separate files for interests submitted by the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Ministry of Forests, BC Assets and Land Corporation, and Ministry of Transportation and Highways.

The records are arranged according to the Resource Management Operational Records Classification System (schedule 144100) using the following primary numbers:

17550: RMP – Land and Resource Management Plans
17730: RMP – Sustainable Resource Management Plans
And the secondary number -30 (development case files).

This series currently contains records from the Kamloops, Lillooet LRMP and the Okanagan-Shuswap LRMP tables. The records from the associated accession(s) cover all types of land use and resource planning, including landscape unit plans, sustainable resource management plans, land and resource management plans, local and regional resource use plans, and other land and/or resource use plans as they were all part of a greater land-use strategy.

The series consists of cutting permits and other timber tenure records. These records were created from 1973-2006 by the 100 Mile House Forest District, a division of the Cariboo Forest Region. Files include cutting permits, forest licences, timber sale licences, timber sale harvesting licences, woodlot licences and licences to cut. Records regard the issuance, evaluation, administration, monitoring, planning, replacement, cancellation, deletion and extension of these timber tenures. The vast majority of records are cutting permits for forest licences. Licensees were required to apply for a forest licence and cutting permits in order to harvest timber.

The records may include legal documents, management plans, development plans, correspondence, forms, reports, maps, licences, permits, permit amendments and renewals, logging plans, cruise compilations, compilation summaries, reports, silviculture prescriptions, traverse cards, appraisals, harvesting reports and inspection forms, permit extension documentation, road permits, financial records, timber scales, timber mark designations, inspection records, photos, and stumpage fees.

The ministries responsible for creating these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:
Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1961-1975)
Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)
Ministry of Forests and Range (2005-2010)

The records were classified as 19500-45, 19540-25, 19620-25, 19720-25, 19720-45, 19720-50 and 19720-55 in the Forest Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).

The series contains records pertaining to the implementation and monitoring of strategic land use plans, including the development of such procedures.

The records cover a range of activities, from advisory committees, public gatherings, monitoring tables, member appointments and invitations, as well as inventories on range, wildlife, old growth forests, habitats and archaeological sites among other topics. Records particularly pertain to feedback received on approved plans prior and during implementation in order to identify issues and suggest amendments. Many of these comments come from Open House sessions with the general public. The series also includes a copy of a Implementation and Monitoring Framework as well as Terms of Reference for monitoring table duties.

The series also includes Protected Area Orders for areas chosen and approved to be protected areas under the Park Act. These orders are accompanied by maps of the area in question.
The records are arranged according to the Resource Management Operational Records Classification System (schedule 144100) using the following primary numbers:

17550: RMP – Land and Resource Management Plans
17730: RMP – Sustainable Resource Management Plans
And the secondary numbers -40 (effectiveness monitoring case files) and -50 (implementation case files).

This series currently contains records from the Kamloops, Lillooet LRMP and the Okanagan-Shuswap LRMP tables. The records from the associated accession(s) cover all types of land use and resource planning, including landscape unit plans, sustainable resource management plans, land and resource management plans, local and regional resource use plans, and other land and/or resource use plans as they were all part of a greater land-use strategy.

This series includes records relating to the review of socio-economic and environmental assessments (SEEA). The records cover the development of policy and procedures for assessments and assessment analysis. They also document the reviews that have been performed in support of Resource Management Plans.
Every resource management plan requires socio-economic and an environmental assessment to confirm the objectives and viability of the plan. Typically a consultant is hired during the creation of a plan to perform the analysis which is then examined and reviewed to verify its accuracy and objectives.

The records in this series include various ministries’ comments on plans and requests for conservation and environmental protection measures in relation to proposed plans. Government produced documents also include notices of pending environmental certificates from developers, as well as briefing notes, news releases and announcements. The series also contains the records of related working groups and committees who were involved in facilitating workshops on assessing projects, organizing the process and analyzing the assessments.

Other records include third party evaluations of proposed developments, such as resorts and landfills, and analysis and impact concerns on wildlife, water resources and the environment in addition to socio-economic impacts. Some environmental assessment certificate applications submitted by developers are also included and cover research conducted for the assessment as well as maps and graphs.

The records are arranged according to the Resource Management Operational Records Classification System (schedule 144100) using the following primary numbers:

17400: RMP – Resource Management Plans

And the secondary number -40 (SEEA review case files).

This series currently contains records from the Kamloops, Lillooet LRMP and the Okanagan-Shuswap LRMP tables. The records from the associated accession(s) cover all types of land use and resource planning, including landscape unit plans, sustainable resource management plans, land and resource management plans, local and regional resource use plans, and other land and/or resource use plans as they were all part of a greater land-use strategy.

This series consists of legislative program files and Cabinet submissions from the Ministry of Forests, 1987-1999. Files relate to a particular piece of legislation or several pieces of legislation being worked on at a given time (such as a particular sitting in the Legislature). Some files also include information on the legislative process and drafting instructions.

Legislative program files relate to legislation administered and developed by the Ministry of Forests and its predecessors. This includes their annual legislative program (such as amendments to existing legislation) as well as the development of new legislation, regulations, orders in council (OICs), and Ministerial orders. It also includes a collection of approved legislation administered by the Ministry.

Changes to existing legislation or the creation or new legislation may be suggested based on a Ministry need, court decision, changes to other legislation, etc. Forestry branches would submit their requests for legislation to the Ministry of Forests Strategic Planning Branch for referral to Legislative Council.

Files can contain requests for legislation or amendments; calls for legislation; copies of legislation, bills, and regulations; suggested amendments and drafts; reports and discussion papers; reference and background materials; correspondence; briefing notes; legislation status reports; communication plans; training materials; draft and final cabinet submissions; presentations; documents regarding consultation with other Ministries and third parties regarding proposed legislation; extracts of Cabinet Committee and Cabinet Committee on Legislation and Regulations meeting minutes; and comments from Legislative Council.

This series also includes several briefing books created to provide Executive Government Officials and Ministers with information on a particular bill. Books can contain summary information, question and answer sections, copies of bills and legislation, news releases, background information, general speaking notes for the first, second and third readings and highly detailed speaking notes for the committee stage which address each proposed amendment.

These records are classified under ARCS number 201-40 and 140-03.

This series consists of reports and studies created as part of the planning of forest resources, often as part of planning timber sale areas (TSAs). Most files were created between 1990 and 2003. Most reports are prepared by private contractors hired by the Ministry. Culturally modified tree (CMT) reports were conducted by the Haida Nation.

Files are arranged in the order received by the Archives. Most files relate to studies done for a particular TSA or other area. Files may include additional types of reports related to the same area, even if not specifically listed in the file title, or a similar type of report for multiple locations.

The series contains studies such as: terrain stability assessments, reconnaissance studies, wildlife surveys or studies, culturally modified tree surveys, site plans, stream classification, hydrology studies, geological studies and engineering reports for site access construction projects.

Many files are layout studies which plan how an area will be used, including, cut block boundaries, harvest method, access routes, site plans, silviculture prescriptions and impacts on nearby bodies of water.

There are also reports utilized in the Haida Land and Resource Planning program (LRMP) process; these files include documents regarding creation of reports and background information used in workshops and consultation.

Records include final reports, photos, aerial photos, maps, correspondence, statistics, field notes, tables, land profiles, and floppy disks containing electronic records. One file contained a sample of tree cores.

This series is classified under ORCS number 12090-20, 12440-25, 18920-30 and 19400-20 of the Ministry of Forests schedule (881261).

This series consists of silviculture records from the Prince George Forest District, 1994-2004. The Ministry of Forests defines silviculture as “the art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs and values of landowners and society on a sustainable basis.”

Silviculture obligation or prescription exemption case files allow for exceptions under section 129.11 of the Forest Act. Silviculture prescriptions document planned silviculture activities prior to logging begins. Activities can include seed collecting, site preparation, artificial and natural regeneration, brushing, spacing and stand tending in order to establish a new free growing crop of trees of a commercially valuable species. Silviculture prescriptions were introduced in the 1980s and exemptions were formally implemented in 1993.

Records include forms, applications, silviculture prescriptions, correspondence, maps and photos.

The ministries responsible for the Forest and Range Districts, and the years that they were responsible, are:
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

This series is classified under ORCS numbers 18790-40 of the Ministry of Forests schedule (881261).

This series consists of records related to resource management and use planning from the Cariboo Forest Region, 1993-2001. Records currently relate to the following Forest Districts within the Forest Region: Williams Lake and Horsefly. In 2003 these two Forest Districts were amalgamated to form the Central Cariboo Forest District.

Records relating to the development of Integrated Resource Use Plans by the Ministry of Forests and Range which are designed to resolve resource use conflicts in specific areas at the local level. Records relate to the use, management and access to various resources.

Plans include the Churn Creek Local Resource Use Plan (LRUP) and lake classification records. Records include correspondence, maps, reports, data, reports, meeting minutes, and consultation with the public and First Nations.

Ministries responsible for the creation of this series, and their dates of the responsibility, are:
Ministry of Forests 1988-2005

Classified as 12600-20 and 12600-60 in the Forests Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).

This series consists of wildfire mapping records including fire atlas maps and fire reports from the Prince Rupert Forest District. The records date from 1921-1980. Collectively these records provide a comprehensive image of the amount and extent of forest fires in the area.

The Prince Rupert Forest District was divided into smaller Ranger Districts. These Ranger Districts changed over the years, but included: Burns Lake, Hazleton, Terrace, Prince Rupert, Kitwanga, Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), Ocean Falls, Francois Lake, Smithers, Telkwa, Houston, Pendleton Bay, Kitimat, Lower Post, Topley, Bella Coola, Southbank, Telegraph Creek and Atlin.

Annual fire reports are oversized handwritten tables that provide detailed information on individual fires for the years 1921-1967. The tables list: name of the fire; name of officer in charge; date; district fire number; fire origin; cost of fighting and source of funds; area burned; total area of damage done; amount of merchantable and unmerchantable timber burned; amount of range land burned; amount of property or other damage caused; and the cause of the fire. Possible causes include lightening, recreational activities, railroad clearing, smokers, brush or range burning, construction, industrial activities, incendiaries, miscellaneous known causes and unknown causes. The pages are arranged by year, with one page used per Ranger District. Each year includes a summary sheet with the totals for all Ranger Districts.

Fire atlas maps and overlays show the location and type of fires, as well as the extent of some burned areas. The majority of the maps are forest cover maps which have been annotated or had overlays added with this additional information. Many of the maps have been cut to fit in the bound volume they were originally stored in. This can make it difficult to determine the precise year the maps were created and annotated.

The series also includes one scrapbook of newspaper clippings related to forest fires, fire protection and firefighting for the years 1988-1991. This item was created by the successor of the Prince Rupert Forest District, the Prince Rupert Forest Region.

Ministries responsible for the creation of this series, and their dates of the responsibility, are:
Dept. of Lands (1908-1945)
Dept. of Lands and Forests (1945-1962)
Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1962-1975)
Dept. of Forests 1975-1976
Ministry of Forests 1976-1986
Ministry of Forests and Lands 1986-1988
Ministry of Forests 1988-2005

This series consists of range management records created by the Quesnel Forest district in the Cariboo Forest Region, and its predecessors, from 1927-2002. This series may contain records created by the Prince George (also known as Fort George), Kamloops, Cariboo and Williams Lake Forest Districts and/or Grazing Districts. Note that the names and boundaries of districts and regions varied over the years. All files were managed by the Quesnel Forest District when the files were closed in or before 2006.

Records relate to the administration of Grazing Licences and Grazing Permits as defined under the Range Act, and Grazing Leases as defined under the Land Act. This includes their issuance, amendment, transfer, billing, monitoring, policy, and administration. This may include records concerning additions and deletions of land and/or authorized Animal Unit Months (AUM) from grazing tenures.

The series also includes individual range unit files which relate to the management of larger range units. These are areas of range land that may be shared by multiple tenure holders. This includes operational records such as range unit plans, inspections covering more than one range tenure, and general information concerning the history of the management of specific range units.

Records in this series include tenure application forms, grazing plans, range use plans, correspondence, maps, photos, surveys, reports, records determining range boundaries and use, and information on range improvements and clearing. Improvements can include infrastructure such as fences, gates and improving access to water sources for livestock.

Each file relates to a particular range tenure. Note that there may be additional individuals or companies who held the tenure over time which are not listed in the file title. Files within each box are arranged alphabetically by file title.

The ministries responsible for the Forest and Range Districts, and the years that they were responsible, are:
Dept. of Lands (1908-1945)
Dept. of Lands and Forests (1945-1962)
Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1962-1975)
Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

This series is classified under ORCS number 15700-20 and 15720-20 of the Ministry of Forests schedule (881261).

This series consists of cutting permits and other forest tenure records created from 1979-1999 by the Fort Nelson Forest District, a division of the Prince George Forest Region. All files were managed as part of the Fort Nelson Forest District when the files were closed and transferred to the archives.

The series includes the following types of timber tenures: forest licences and one silviculture audit file. The majority of files relate to cutting permits. Licensees were required to apply for a forest licence or similar tenure and cutting permits in order to harvest timber. Records regard the issuance, evaluation, administration, monitoring, planning, replacement, cancellation, deletion and extension of these timber tenures.

The records include legal documents, operations information, correspondence, forms, reports, maps, licences, permits, permit amendment or renewal documentation, applications, logging plans, reports, silviculture prescriptions, stumpage adjustment, and financial records.

The ministries responsible for creating these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

The records were classified as 18765-20 and 19500-20 in the Forest Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).

This series consists of a variety of range management and recreational land use records created from 1985-1998 by the Columbia Forest District, a division of the Nelson Forest Region. The series also includes records from the Revelstoke Forest District, Golden Forest District, and Mica Creek Forest Station. All files were managed as part of the Columbia Forest District when the files were closed.

The series includes the following types of records:

Range management records relate to the administration of Grazing Licences and Grazing Permits as defined under the Range Act, and Grazing Leases as defined under the Land Act. This includes their issuance, amendment, transfer, billing, monitoring, policy, and administration. This may include records concerning additions and deletions of land and/or authorized Animal Unit Months (AUM) from grazing tenures. Records may include tenure application forms, grazing plans, range use plans, correspondence, maps, surveys and reports.

Forest Service facilities, sites and trail files relate to the routine maintenance, rehabilitation and development of Forest Service recreation sites and trails. Includes records relating to the planning, designation, assessment, design and construction of recreation sites and trails. Types of records can include correspondence, reports, studies, published material, photos, and maps.

There are also files regarding related brochures and recreation maps, as well as protected areas strategies.

The ministries responsible for creating these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

The records were classified as 15700-20, 16300-20, 16400-50, 16660-40, 16700-05, 16700-06, and 16800-20 in the Forest Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).

This series consists of silviculture experiment files created from 1910-2005 by the Squamish Forest District, a division of the Vancouver Forest Region. The ministry defines silviculture as “the art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs and values of landowners and society on a sustainable basis.” These files document the historical silviculture treatment work that has been undertaken on specific areas of land that are referred to as openings.

The majority of the records are silviculture opening files. These files were created from the 1970s on, but may include earlier records. Openings document the historical silviculture treatment work that has been undertaken on specific areas of land that are referred to as openings. These files regard changes in the forest cover, changes in prescriptions, cut boundaries and records involving impacts on silvicultural treatments. Files may contain a wide variety of record formats including textual records, maps and photos. The textual records include computer printouts, photocopies, cards, field notes, reports and correspondence.

All opening files include maps or site plans, a forest attribute cover form and other documents related to the opening. Additional documents commonly found in files include: various survey or assessment forms; computer printouts titled the History of Crop Establishment and Tending which provides a history of use and information regarding prescriptions, site preparations, reforestation and stand tending; prescription documents, which provide the management plan for the area; stand tending cards and reports, which show completed forest treatments; and various reports.

Other types of records relate to audits and assessments for major licensees, a 5 year silviculture plan for the district, and
silviculture trials.

The ministries responsible for creating these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

The records were classified as 12380-30, 18765-20, 18750-20 and 18990-20 in the Forest Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).

This series consists of timber tenures from 1955-2007 by the Campbell River Forest District, a division of the Vancouver Forest Region. The majority of the records are Tree Farm Licence (TFL) cutting permits.

TFLs are a type of timber tenure which grants a virtually exclusive right to harvest timber and manage forests in a specified area. They are issued for a term of 25 years, but can be replaced every 5-10 years. The records relate to TFL 2, TFL 7, TFL 19, TFL 22, TFL 25, TFL 36, TFL 39, TFL 45 and TFL 47. Over the years, TFL boundaries and rights holders may have changed. There are also two cutting permits for forest licence A19233.

Other types of timber tenures in this series include: replaceable forest licences, licences to cut, timber licences, replaceable timber sale licences, non-replaceable timber sale licences, special use permits, and woodlot licences.

Records regard the issuance, evaluation, administration, monitoring, planning, replacement, cancellation, deletion and extension of these timber tenures. The files may consist of applications, ministry approvals, copies of the permit or licence, revisions, correspondence, legal documents, annual reports, operations information, development plans, charts, procedures, audits, reviews, maps, photos and silviculture records.

The ministries responsible for creating these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:
Dept. of Lands and Forests (1955-1962)
Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water (1962-1975)
Dept. of Forests (1975-1976 )
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

The records were classified as 19500-45, 19500-60, 19540-25, 19570-25, 19580-45, 19600-20, 19600-25, 19600-30, 19600-45, 19600-55, 19600-60, 19620-25, 19700-45, 19710-20, 19720-20,19720-25 and 19720-45 in the Forest Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).

This series consists of a variety of operational records created by the Campbell River Forest District, a division of the Vancouver Forest Region, from 1990-2001. This includes land and resource management records, range tenures, and procedure files.

The series includes the following types of records:

Records relating to Land and Resource Management Plans (LRMP) consider all resource values within a given area of land. This area of land can consist of a TSA, a forest district, or other areas as designated. Each plan is prepared by an Interagency Planning Team in consultation with the public. These plans can be further subdivided into resource units and resource management zones. The participants in the planning process may build scenarios that include a set of resource management objectives and strategies both for the entire planning area and for each of the smaller units it contains. This primary includes the development, monitoring and review and amendment of plans for specific areas, and input from the public. The series includes terms of reference for the establishment of LRMPs.

Records relating to Local Resource Use Plans (LRUPs) to resolve resource use conflicts in specific areas at the local level. Includes records relating to data concerning a specific area - usually a watershed or other distinct resource management unit.

Utilization records regard the guidelines followed by the Ministry of Forests concerning the harvesting of timber
and the resulting affects on fish habitat. Includes guidelines, audits of licensees to ensure compliance with
guidelines, action/assessment plans.

The series also includes one district inventory program file and a range tenure file. There are also procedures related to engineering, road damage, forest service roads, district program planning, nurseries silviculture obligations and silviculture treatments.

The ministries responsible for creating these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

The records were classified as 12380-25, 12440-20, 12600-20, 15700-20, 19910-20, plus several procedure files ending in the secondary "-02" in the Forest Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).

This series consists of miscellaneous operational records that are not related to range management or timber tenures from the McKenzie Forest District for the years 1951-2001. This district was part of the Prince George Forest Region (1978-2003) and the Northern Interior Forest Region (2003-2010). Note that the names and boundaries of districts and regions varied over the years.

Records relate to the creation of resource analysis plans; special recreation projects; construction work resulting from floods in 1990; the inventory and management of recreation sites; the Muskwa Kechika coordinating group; and the deactivation and stabilization prescription of the Kemess mines infrastructure.

The ministries responsible for the Forest and Range Districts, and the years that they were responsible, are:
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

This series is classified under ORCS number 11200-08, 11370-25, 12125-02, 12443-20, 16090-20 and 16350-20 of the Ministry of Forests schedule (881261).

This series consists of timber tenure records created by the Vanderhoof Forest District from 1965-2004. Types of tenures include forest licences, licences to cut, timber sale licences, timber sale harvesting licences, woodlot licences and cutting permits. Licensees were required to apply for a forest licence or similar tenure and cutting permits in order to harvest timber. Records may regard the issuance, evaluation, administration, monitoring, planning, replacement, cancellation, deletion and extension of these timber tenures.

The files may consist of records such as applications, ministry approvals, copies of the permit or licence, revisions, correspondence, legal documents, annual reports, operations information, development plans, charts, procedures, audits, reviews, photos, development plans, timber cruise compilations, stumpage rates, appraisals, cruise cards, survey notes, photos, and maps.

The ministries responsible for creating these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:

Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water (1962-1975)
Dept. of Forests (1975-1976 )
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

The records were classified as 19500-40, 19500-45, 19500-55, 19540-25, 19620-45 and 19720-45 in the Forest Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).

This series consists of range management records from the Vanderhoof Forest District for the years 1953-2004. This district was part of the Prince George Forest Region (1978-2003) and the Northern Interior Forest Region (2003-2010). Note that the names and boundaries of districts and regions varied over the years.

Records relate to the administration of Grazing Licences and Grazing Permits as defined under the Range Act, and Grazing Leases as defined under the Land Act. This includes their issuance, amendment, transfer, billing, monitoring, policy, and administration. This may include records concerning additions and deletions of land and/or authorized Animal Unit Months (AUM) from grazing tenures.

Each grazing permit and licence file relates to a particular range tenure. Note that there may be additional individuals or companies who held the tenure over time which are not listed in the file title.

Records in this series include tenure application forms, grazing plans, range use plans, correspondence, maps, surveys, reports, records determining range boundaries and use, and information on range improvements such as range seeding and clearing.

The ministries responsible for the Forest and Range Districts, and the years that they were responsible, are:
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1962-1975)
British Columbia. Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

This series is classified under ORCS number 15700-20 and 15740-20 of the Ministry of Forests schedule (881261).

The series consists of tree farm forest development plans and forest management plans and created for tree farm licences (TFLs). The records were created by the Port Alberni Forest District, and its successor the South Island Forest District, between 1971 and 2005. Many of the records relate to the forestry management in the Barkley Sound, Clayoquot Sound, Walbran and Fairy Creek areas. Including forest that was the focus of protests and acts of civil disobedience in the 1990s, known as the Clayoquot protests or War of the Woods.

TFLs are a type of timber tenure which grants a virtually exclusive right to harvest timber and manage forests in a specified area. They are issued for a term of 25 years, but can be replaced every 5-10 years.

These files document the management of TFL 20, TFL 21, TFL 22, TFL 25, TFL 44, TFL 46, TFL 47, TFL 54 and TFL 57. Over the years, TFL boundaries and rights holders may have changed. For example, in 1984, TFL 20 and 21 were combined to form TFL 44, and TFL 44 was later divided to create TFL 57 in 1999.

TFL holders are required to submit a management plan every five years to the Chief Forester (RSBC 1996, c. 157, s. 35, and BC Reg. 23/2013). The Forest Act requires that the plan must:

1. Be prepared by a professional forester;
2. Include inventories of forest, recreation, fisheries, wildlife, range and cultural heritage resources in the area;
3. Be consistent with the tree farm licence, legislation and regulations;
4. Propose objectives regarding the management and utilization of timber resources, the protection and conservation of non-timber values, forest fire prevention and suppression, forest health, silviculture, and road construction and deactivation;
5. Include proposals for meeting proposed management objectives;
6. List measures to identify and consult with persons using the licence area for purposes other than timber production;
7. Include a timber supply analysis that analyzes the short term and long term availability of timber for harvesting;
8. Include an operational supply projection for the licence area, in support of the timber supply analysis that indicates the availability of timber.

These records include draft and final management or development plans; revisions or amendments to existing plans; correspondence between the ministry and licence holders, as well as correspondence with ministry staff; records related to public review of the development plans; consultation and correspondence with First Nations; reasons for why a plan or amendment was or was not approved; advertisements in newspapers and the Gazette; and maps and map overlays. The series also includes some records related to the construction, maintenance and deactivation of forest service roads in the TFLs.

The records have been classified as 19710-20 and 19710-30 in the Forestry Operational Classification System (ORCS).

The ministries responsible for these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

The series consists of forest licence development plans from the Port McNeill Forest District. The majority of the forest licences are from the Kingcombe Timber Supply Area and Central Coast of BC. The records were created between 1991 and 2000.

The ministry required a copy of a development plan before the forest licence holder could harvest the timber in that area. The series contains five year development plans created by the licence holder as well as ministry correspondence with the licensee about the plan and future plans for developing the area.

The development plans contain photographs and maps inside the reports. There are also many oversize maps that have been removed from the reports and stored separately.

Each file is identified by the forest licence number, the name of the licence holder, the location of the cutting block, and the years covered by the development plan.

The series contains the following forest licence files: A19238, A19242, A19243, A19244, A32687, A53812. There is also a file for timber licence T0860. The companies that hold licences n this series include: Canfor, International Forest Products Ltd., MacMillan Bloedel, Mill & Timber Products Ltd., Richmond Plywood Corporation Limited, Scott Paper Ltd., Shushartie Log Sales Ltd., Timfor Contractors Ltd.

This series is classified as 19500-55 in the Forest ORCS.

Series consists of nursery files by the Ministry of Forests’ Nursery Services unit between 1995 and 2007. These files document the administration of tree nurseries by the ministry in the southern interior region of British Columbia. These nurseries provide seedlings for the reforestation of Crown Lands.

There are two types of files in this series. The first type consist of policy and procedure documentation relating to the ordering of summer stock seedlings and the cold storage of seedlings.

The second type consists of pesticide application reports. These reports document the types of pesticides used at nurseries throughout the southern interior. Many of the nurseries in the province were managed by private contractors and many of the reports were created by the contractor. There are also copies of BC Government computer printouts taken from the Nursery and Shipping Administration System (NSA). These reports list the location of the nursery, the type of pesticide applied and the purpose of the pesticide.

Series consists of timber sale licence files from the Kamloops Forest District. These licences provide a licensee with the right to harvest timber in a specified area.

Each file documents the issuance, administration and cancellation of timber licences as per the Forest Act. The majority of the files in this series date from 1970-1989 although there are also some files that date back to 1942. The records are from the Kamloops Forest region.

The files consist primarily of copies of the licence, applications, maps, status clearance forms, harvesting inspection reports, renewal forms, deletion notices, correspondence and reports. There are also some cash timber licences in this series (boxes 168-172) that contain cash timber licence permits.

The ministry assigned A numbers to the files which have been assigned sequentially. There are many gaps in the numbering since the central ministry office and other forest regions also used the same numbering system and the ministry only transferred cancelled licence files to the archives. There are also some files that have been classified with an “LKS” or “X” number.

The majority of the files contain two parts. These were attached to both sides of the file folder are front to front. One part consists of a copy of the licence and other legal documents whereas the second consists of related correspondence, forms and reports.

The records were created by the Kamloops Forests District as part of the following ministries:

1942-1945 Dept. of Lands
1945-1962 Dept. of Lands and Forests
1962-1975 Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources
1975-1976 Dept. of Forests
1976-1986 Ministry of Forests
1986-1988 Ministry of Forests and Lands
1988-1989 Ministry of Forests

The records have been classified as 19620-25 in the Forest ORCS. The ministry also assigned a classification number of 850-5 to many of the files.

This series consists of resource management plans and procedures from the 100 Mile House Forest District, 1970-2005. The 100 Mile House Forest District is part of the Cariboo Forest Region. Note that their exact boundaries may have changed over the years.

The majority of files relate to the development of Integrated Resource Use Plans which are designed to resolve resource use conflicts in specific areas at the local level. Each file includes records relating to data concerning a specific area - usually a watershed or other distinct resource management unit. Types of plans include Resource Folios, Coordinated Access Management Plans (CAMP), Coordinated Resource Management Plans (CRMP) and Integrated Watershed Management Plans (IWMP). Files may include correspondence, reports, maps, photos, meeting minutes, community and indigenous consultation, and a variety of other records which may document the creation of plans, the annual review of plans by stakeholders, and the execution of the plan.

Procedure files relate to timber harvesting, silviculture treatments, stumpage rates, trespass, timber sale licences and harvesting weight scales. There is also a file related to road damage and an access study for English Lake.

The ministries responsible for the Forest and Range Districts, and the years that they were responsible, are:

British Columbia. Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

Records are classified under numbers 11200-08, 11050-20, 12600-25, 12600-30, 12600-35, 12600-40 and 12600-60 in the Forest Operational Records Classification System (ORCS). Procedure files are classified with the secondary -02.

This series consists of a variety of operational and land use records from the Prince George Forest Region, created from 1954-2010. Some records may have been created by its predecessor, the Prince George Forest District, and its successor, the Northern Interior Forest Region.

The Prince George Forest Region consisted of several smaller forest districts. Records created in the Prince George Forest Region may relate to the following Forest Districts: Fort St. James, Vanderhoof, Mackenzie, Robson Valley, Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Prince George and Peace. Records may also relate to the nearby Kamloops Forest District.

This series includes a wide variety of records and subjects. Records primarily relate to forest administration and resource management. The following types of records are included in this series:

Facility and trail management files relate to the routine maintenance, rehabilitation and development of Forest Service recreation sites and trails, such as the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail (AMHT). This includes records relating to the planning, designation, assessment, evaluation, design and construction of recreation sites and trails.

Resource management files include protected areas strategy submissions and proposals relating to the identification, evaluation and management of protected areas within the Province of British Columbia. Resource management inventories relate to identifying opportunities for recreation features, caves, and recreation opportunity spectrum (ROS) inventories. There are also resource management planning records for recreation corridor plans (rivers and trails) and other wilderness management records.

Resource planning files include local resource use plans (LRUP) and timber supply area (TSA) files.

Access plans relate to access or transportation investigations, and studies concerning the proposed development of forestry roads and bridges. This includes clearance approvals to determine any conflicts with alienated land for proposed construction, and meeting minutes with stakeholders for project consultation.

Road permit files may relate to the application and amendment of permits, as well as the construction, use and maintenance of forest service roads (FSRs) and other roads related to forestry on Crown land. Records include road permits, road use permits, vehicle permits, correspondence, maps, records related to road right-of-ways, clearances, and inspections. Permits give the right of way to build, modify and use a road on that right of way. Road use permits allow the operation of vehicles on a Forest Service Road. Roads include Finlay and Parsnip Forest Service Roads. Some files also relate to damages to roads.

District program evaluation files relate to the development of program management plans and reviews of operational program accomplishments at the district level. This includes draft and approved five year program management plans and associated updates, reports and correspondence for programs within district offices. Files regard topics such as timber harvesting audits, five year silviculture plans and the Small Business Forest Enterprise Program.

There are also records filed under additional ORCS numbers, including files on: community watershed guidelines; Prince George community forest proposal; Forests of the World Commission; special use permits for gravel pits; timber harvesting Appeal Board records; a sawmill site; range seeding; as well as procedures for Visual resource management, visual landscape inventory, timber marks, fire management and fire prevention. The series also includes a few replaceable forest license files and timber sale licence files and annual reports for the Prince George East Forest District.

Records may include correspondence, licences, permits, reports, forms, management plans, developments plans, inspections, evaluations, maps, sketches, photos, proposals, studies and financial records.

Records are covered by ORCS 10765-20, 11050-20, 11200-08, 11250-20, 11400-25, 12210-30, 12450-20, 12380-25, 12380-30, 12600-20, 12600-60, 12605-20, 15420-08, 15420-02, 16210-02, 16225-02, 16250-02, 16290-02, 16300-40, 16350-20, 16350-30, 16350-60, 16400-50, 16660-20, 16800-20, 19020-40, 19200-02, 19500-25, 19550-20, 19570-25, 19600-55 and 19600-60 of the Forest ORCS (schedule 881261).

The ministries responsible for the Forest Districts, and the years that they were responsible, are:

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests (1945-1962)
British Columbia. Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1962-1975)
British Columbia. Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)
British Columbia. Ministry of Forests and Range (2005-2010)

This series consists of silviculture openings from the Okanagan Shuswap Forest District and its predecessors from 1962-1994. This series may contain records created by the Salmon Arm Forest District, Penticton Forest District and Vernon Forest District in the Kamloops Forest Region. These districts (or parts of them) were amalgamated to form the Okanagan Shuswap Forest District in 2003.

The Ministry of Forests defines silviculture as “the art and science of controlling the establishment, growth, composition, health, and quality of forests and woodlands to meet the diverse needs and values of landowners and society on a sustainable basis.”

Most files consist of silviculture opening records which document the historical silviculture treatment work that has been undertaken on specific areas of land that are referred to as openings. These files regard changes in the forest cover, changes in prescriptions, cut boundaries, changes in site prescriptions and records involving impacts on silvicultural treatments.

Files may contain a wide variety of record formats including textual records, photographs and maps. The textual records include computer printouts, photocopies, cards, reports and correspondence. Other types of records include prescription documents, which provide the management plan for the area; stand tending descriptions and reports, which show completed forest treatments; traverse sheets, which provide location information; planting reports; final harvesting reports; surveys; site plans; and inspection reports.

Opening files are arranged in several numerically ordered groups by a classification number. The first part of that number (ex. 82E097) corresponds with the National Topographic System location codes and the second part of the number consists of a sequential three digit number applied to each file.

Ministries responsible for the creation of this series, and their dates of the responsibility, are:

Dept. of Lands and Forests 1945-1962
Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources 1962-1975
Dept. of Forests 1975-1976
Ministry of Forests 1976-1986
Ministry of Forests and Lands 1986-1988
Ministry of Forests 1988-2005

Classified as 18750-20 in the Forests Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).

The series consists of timber sale harvesting licences (TSHL) from the 100 Mile House Forest District. Timber sale harvesting licences were first introduced in 1967 and provided individuals and businesses with a permit to cut a volume of timber. This series documents the Government’s administration of timber licences during the period of 1963-1990.

Each file contains correspondence, reports and may also contain maps of the cutting area. The files also contain the TSHL application, cutting permit, timber value appraisals and reappraisals, stumpage rate notices, cutting plan maps, charts, clearance status inquiries, and inspection reports. The files are numbered with the licence number and, in many cases, a cutting permit number.

The records have been classified as 19590-45 in the Forest Operational Classification System (ORCS).

The ministries responsible for these records, and the years that they were responsible, are:
Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources (1962-1975)
Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

This series consists of various timber tenure records from the Prince George Forest Region, which managed several Forest Districts. Records created in the Prince George Forest Region may relate to the following Forest Districts: Fort St. James, Vanderhoof, Mackenzie, Robson Valley, Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Prince George and Peace.

The records were created from 1970-1996. Types of forest tenure records in this series include: regional manager timber pricing appeal files, timber sale licences, timber sale harvesting licences, cutting permits, woodlot licences, cash sale timber licences, and forest licences. These tenures were created under the Forest Act between the BC Forest Service and various companies or individuals.

Records regard the issuance, evaluation, administration, monitoring, planning, replacement, cancellation, deletion and extension of forest tenures, as well as operations information. Operations information includes business and planning records regarding the establishment and operations of mills and other forestry related projects. They provide additional context of how and why licences were applied for and approved, as well as relevant administrative history of the companies such as name changes, changes in ownership and financial information.

Records include legal documents, clearance records, stumpage rate calculations, correspondence, maps, development plans, procedures, contracts, logging plans, forest management plans, appraisals and photos. Pricing appeal files relate to appeals and protests registered concerning timber prices (stumpage rates) set by the Province of British Columbia, and resolved by decision of Regional Manager.

The ministries responsible for Forest and Range Districts, and the years that they were responsible, are:
Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)
Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)

This series is classified under ORCS numbers 19720-20, 19720-45, 19720-55 and 21680-20 of the Ministry of Forests schedule (881261).