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The series consists of records created by the Lands Branch between 1890 and 1908. The series contains registers of applications to cut and carry away timber, vols. 1-2, 4-11, (vol. 3 is missing). The registers give letter inward number, application number, copy of notice in Gazette, license number, and location. Each volume contains an index to applicants.

The series consists of two copies of a three volume submission to the Royal Commission on Forestry by the Bureau of Economics and Statistics. It includes a statement showing the amount of timber held under all types of tenure, by individuals and firms in B.C. during 1938 and 1944.

The series consists of records created by the Royal Commission on Timber and Forestry between 1905 and 1911. The records include transcripts of evidence, written submissions, abstract of evidence, reports, correspondence and other supporting material.

This series consists of records of the 1975 Royal Commission on Forest Resources led by Commissioner Peter H. Pearse. Records include exhibits, transcripts of evidence, correspondence, subject files, working papers, financial records and newspaper clippings.

The finding aid provides an alphabetical listing of exhibits (volumes 1-9), a file list of correspondence and subject files (volumes 10-13), and a file list of working papers (volumes 14-16). Volumes 17 and 18 contain newspaper clippings about the activities of the Commission, volume 19 is a Ledger of accounts and volumes 20 to 28 contain the transcripts of evidence taken at public hearings of the commission. An alphabetical index of participants providing the transcript volume number and page numbers of testimony given is included at the end of the finding aid.

To find briefs of particular participants, researchers are advised to search the alphabetical listing of briefs for the appropriate box number. References to the original numbering of briefs done by the Commission no longer have meaning for retrieval purposes.

Typescript of statistical information corrected to Dec. 31, 1959, including timber licences, list of holders; record of pulp licences; list of active licence timber berths; record of pulp leases.

This series consists of records of the Commission on Forest Resources (1943-1945). Records consist of transcripts of proceedings of public meetings of the commission, exhibits received, correspondence, arguments, secretary's record book of sittings and subject index to proceedings. A subject index to proceedings was created by the commission and is located in boxes 1 and 2. The finding aid gives a list of exhibits and file list of other records. Immediately following the inquiry, many of the exhibits were transferred to the Forest Service Library and are therefore missing (see box 9, file 1).

This series consists of the interim report, final report and indexed notes of evidence of the Dominion Crown Timber Commission (British Columbia). Records were created by Commissioner Archer Martin to the Minister of the Interior.

This series consists of records of the 1955 Royal Commission on Forest Resources, led by Commissioner Gordon McGregor Sloan. Records include transcripts of evidence, exhibits, proceedings, arguments, and report synopsis. Box 1 contains a bound index of commission records. It should be noted that some exhibits are missing from this unit. They were never received by BC Archives and their location is unknown. Some page numbers were not used in printed volumes.

This series consists of Forest Branch Spruce Permit files, numbers 1-330 and unnumbered.

This series consists of Forest Branch timber reconnaissance and survey files, 1912-1943. Includes reports, memoranda, correspondence, statistical summary sheets, sketches, plans, maps and photographs of timber inventories of Crown lands, timber leases, government reserves, private holdings and pulp leases.

This series consists of the operational records of the Forest Surveys and Inventory Division. Records include procedures, operations, policy, and field manuals relating to forest management, forest protection, forest surveys and inventory, grazing and range administration, engineering, and accounting, 1942-1981; Civil Service Commission descriptions for positions in the B.C. Forest Service, 1950-1970; and letters of instruction and circular letters to Forest Officers, and miscellaneous correspondence, 1943-1977. There is also a report of forest inventory work from 1955 with maps.

This series consists of Forest Branch timber investigations and inspections files, 1913-1915. Records include correspondence and reports from Nelson, Prince Rupert, Vancouver and Vernon Forest Districts. Includes file on early logging railroads, Vancouver Forest District.

This series consists of Chief Forester reports, memoranda and correspondence with B.C. Lumber Commissioner regarding timber marketing and export policy; semi-official correspondence with District Foresters of Vancouver and Cranbrook Forest Districts; and preliminary report on grazing of livestock on Crown lands.

This series consists of Timber Inspector reports to Minister of Lands and Chief Forester, March 1911 to December 1912.

This series contains operational records of the Prince George Forest District relating to forest administration, 1919-1981. Records are arranged according to the Forest Service filing system. These records include annual reports, ranger meeting summaries, records regarding timber exports, forest protection, forest reserves, the Peace River hydroelectric projects, the Mica Dam flood basin, land use, timber cruising, silviculture, aerial photography, rights-of-way, timber sales, timber licenses, Public Sustained Yield Units, tree farm licences, and forest wood lot licenses. Also contains construction and maintenance reports pertaining to ranger stations, lookouts, forest roads and trails, boathouses, telephone lines and other Forest Service facilities. Records consist of correspondence, memoranda, reports, licenses, permits, plans, etc.

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

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands (1908-1945)
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)

This series contains operational records of the District Forester/Regional Manager relating to forest administration and lumber management. Includes annual reports, records relating to cooperation with other resources ministries, Public Sustained Yield Units, range management, and construction and maintenance reports relating to forest roads, boathouses, ranger stations, and other structures.

This series contains subject indexes to the "O Series" of correspondence, ca.1918-1972 and two file directories, 1979-1981 and 1983. Box 1 contains a photocopy of an alphabetical card index to the "O series" of correspondence. Box 2 contains a file directory (updated to 1972) for "O Series" correspondence files arranged as general files, working plans, engineering, farm woodlot applications, public sustained yield units, tree farms and tree farm licences and a Forest Service file directory, 1979-1981 and a Ministry of Forests file directory, 1983. Indexes to forestry correspondence, 1918-1983

This series contains correspondence files relating to the administration, management, conservation, and development of Crown Lands and natural resources.

This series contains microfilmed copies of O series correspondence files relating to the administration, management, conservation and development of Crown Lands and natural resources.

These correspondence files were microfilmed by the Lands Branch in 3 stages between 1955-1958, 1970-1975
and 1982-1986 resulting in 9 sets, or runs, of files. Many files are missing and researchers should go directly to the Ministry at CLRHelp@gov.bc.ca for access to the originals when they are looking for specific complex issue files or those that may not have been microfilmed.

Many of the microfilm reels contain amendments or updates to previously filmed correspondence files. These amendments are usually found at the beginning of the reel and, except for the last three files on reel B10989, are not noted on the file list.

Summarized within the finding aid are the three microfilming projects. For reels between B10918 and B10989 that were microfilmed in 1986, the lowest file number beginning a sequence may represent the start of a new range of file numbers, an amendment or update, or a file filmed out of numeric order. Check these last 72 reels carefully because many files were filmed out of numeric order.

The series consists of Dominion Lands Branch timber berth administration files created by the Canadian Department of the Interior from 1896 to 1932. Timber berths were an area based system of timber tenure established by the Dominion (Federal) Government in 1872. Most of the records are on microfilm and arranged by land district and section. Records from the following land districts are included: New Westminster, Kamloops and Revelstoke.

The series also includes several paper files of similar records which were likely transferred to the custody of the Provincial government after the return of the railway belt. The records are primarily homestead inspection reports for timber berths. Other records include correspondence, applications, statistics on timber volumes and maps. The records are in no discernable order; they contain a variety of dates, names and timber berth numbers. Some of these records may be duplicated on the microfilm in this series.

The series consists of Dominion Lands Branch timber berth licenses created by the Canadian Department of the Interior from 1931 to 1951.

The series consists of a timber mark register created by the Canadian Department of the Interior from 1949-1954.

The series consists of working documents, microfilmed from their three ring binder in 1965, used by the vault staff of the Surveys and Inventory Division as location guides, finding aids and loan sheets, mainly for maps and air photographs. The collection includes some textual records and cruise sheets.

British Columbia Forest Service

Surveys and Inventory Division

Guides to the Surveys and Inventory Division maps and photos

The series consists of one film and 71 videos created or acquired by the Ministry of Forests and its predecessor bodies between 1963 and 1989. The contents of the records cover many aspects of forestry including fire management, forest management, seed and cone management and pests and pesticides. It also includes video interviews with retired staff on the history and practice of the Forest Service and a copy of the documentary "A Proud Past" which those interviews contributed to.

This series consists of special use permit files relating to forest lands. The Forest Branch, and its successor agencies, approved these permits to give municipalities, companies and individuals the authority to use Crown forest land for a variety of land uses. Some of the permitted uses include logging, recreation, agriculture, fisheries and housing.

The records date from 1889-2011 and were created and maintained by the Victoria Forest Office. The records deal with all regions of the province. The records are arranged by special use permit number which consists of the prefix S, or SUP, and a sequential number. Note that this order may not be exact, particularly for later records.

The files contain copies of the permit, applications for a permit, correspondence, sketches and maps of the area covered by the permit, receipts for the lease payments, reports, and clearance forms. Some documents in the file have been stamped with 6-7 digit correspondence register numbers and references to the “O” lands file number.

The ministry maintained a register and index that provides additional information for each file. This index listed the following information: file number, district, forest, applicant/holder, function, location, atlas reference, date received, date cleared and comments. Although the original registers have not been transferred to the archives, the ministry provided the archives with scans of the registers.

There were multiple government offices responsible for managing these records between 1931 and 1992.

The following ministries and offices were responsible for the creation of these records:
1931-1945 Forest Branch (1931-1945)
1945-1979 Forest Service (1945-1979)
1979-1986 Ministry of Forests (1979-1986)
1986-1988 Ministry of Forests and Lands (1986-1988)
1988-2005 Ministry of Forests (1988-2005)
2005-2010 Ministry of Forests and Range (2005-2010)
2010-2011 Ministry of Forests, Mines and Lands (2010-2011)

The records have been classified as 19570-25 of the Forests ORCS (schedule 881261).

This series consists of annual reports submitted by the holders of tree farm licences. Each tree farm licence requires the licensee to submit an annual report. The licensee must report on:

1. their performance over the previous calendar year in relation to its management of the licence area and their obligations under the licence,
2. their success in meeting their management objectives, including all employment and economic activities,
3. the processing or other use or disposition of the timber harvested under the licence, and,
4. their goals and major initiatives for the next calendar year.

The series is arranged annually by the tree farm licence number. The reports have been placed in file folders which, in some cases, also contain copies of correspondence between ministry staff, and/or the Licensee and references to the applicable “0” lands file. Some of the reports contain attached photographs to provide additional information.

The following ministries and departments were responsible for managing this function:

1951-1962 Dept. of Lands and Forests
1962-1975 Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources
1975-1976 Dept. of Forests (1975-1976)
1976-1986 Ministry of Forests
1986-1988 Ministry of Forests and Lands
1988-1999 Ministry of Forests

The series has been classified as 19700-60 in the Forests Operational Classification System (ORCS).

The series consists of tree farm cutting permit files from the Port Alberni Forest District. These files document the permit application process and the general administration of existing cutting permits in forests that are part of tree farm licences (TFL) 20, 21, 22, 44, 46 and 54. The records were created between 1955 and 1992.

The series is arranged by accession, then the tree farm number followed by the cutting permit number. The files contain forms, reports, correspondence and maps. The files consist of cutting permit applications, ministry approvals, revisions to the permit, forest appraisals, a description and maps of the area that will be logged, future plans for the area as well as ministry audits of the work that has been undertaken.

The files are for TFL 44, TFL 20 and TFL 21. In 1984, TFL’s 20 and 21 were consolidated to create TFL 44.

The ministries that were responsible for these records are:
1955-1962 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
1988-2005 Ministry of Forests

The records have been classified as 19700-45, 19700-46 and 19700-47 in the Forest Operational Classification System (ORCS). These numbers are covered under the old forestry file code number 880-3.

The series consists of timber sale harvesting licences (TSHL) from the Port Alberni 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 1970-1982.

The series contains records for TSHL’s A00633 and A02810. There are multiple files for each TSHL and each file corresponds to specific cutting permit. 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, and inspection reports.

The ministries that were responsible for this function are:

1970-1975 Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources
1975-1976 Dept. of Forests
1976-1980 Ministry of Forests

The records have been classified as 19590-45 in the Forest Operational 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)

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)