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Only top-level descriptions British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests Forest management--British Columbia
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Forest Surveys and Inventory Division operational records

  • GR-0944
  • Series
  • 1942-1981

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.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)

Prince George Forest District operational records

  • GR-1110
  • Series
  • 1919-1985

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)

British Columbia. Fort George Forest District

Prince George Forest Region operational records

  • GR-3934
  • Series
  • 1954-2010

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)

British Columbia. Prince George Forest District (1953-1978)

Tree farm cutting permits from the Port Alberni Forest District

  • GR-3640
  • Series
  • 1955-1992

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.

British Columbia. Port Alberni Forest District

Timber licence files from the Port Alberni Forest District

  • GR-3695
  • Series
  • 1956-1981

The series consists of timber licence files from the Port Alberni Forest District. The licences provided the licensee with the right to harvest timber from a specific area. The files document the management of timber licences and include records relating to the issuance, administration and monitoring of the licence. The records were created between 1956 and 1981.

The majority of the files consist of licence files arranged by the timber number. Each timber number begins with the letter “T.” The series also contains one general administration file and files of “expired timber licences” that were not renewed and were brought together in large files.

The files consist of forms, reports, correspondence and maps. The files usually contain a copy of the licence, maps of the area that will be logged, ministry approvals, operating and development plans, inspection reports, as well as a wide variety of correspondence with the licensee.

The ministries that were responsible for these records are:
1956-1962 Dept. of Lands and Forests
1962-1975 Dept. of Lands, Forests and Water Resources
1975-1976 Dept. of Forests
1976-1981 Ministry of Forests

The records have been classified as 19580-25 in the Forest Operational Classification System (ORCS).

British Columbia. Port Alberni Forest District

Rocky Mountain Forest District timber tenures

  • GR-4079
  • Series
  • 1946-2008

This series consists of timber tenures from the Rocky Mountain Forest District for the years 1946-2008. This series may also include records created by the Cranbrook, Invermere and Kootenay Lake Forest Districts, as well as the Nelson and Southern Interior Forest Regions. Note that the names and boundaries of districts and regions varied over the years.

Timber tenures include replaceable forest licences, licences to cut, replaceable timber sale licences, non-replaceable timber sale licences, woodlot licences, special use permits and Christmas tree permits. There are also records regarding tree farm licence (TFL) 13, TFL 14, TFL 26, TFL 36 and TFL 37.

Files contain cutting permits, legal documents, operations information, charts, applications, development plans, annual reports, management plans, an “A” number bid deposit register, correspondence, maps, reports, amendments, logging inspection reports, logging plans, licences, policy, procedures, and a variety of other documents.

The series also includes some records related to silviculture. These include silviculture openings, obligations, as well as silviculture experiment (SX) files regard trials completed under the jurisdiction of the silviculture program. Includes records detailing silviculture trials conducted, working plans, results, evaluations, reports, models, maps and data. Silviculture obligations may relate to major licensees, woodlot licences or the small business program.

The ministries responsible for the Forest and Range 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 (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)

Records in this series are classified under ORCS numbers 18750-20, 18765-20, 18765-25, 18765-30, 18990-20, 19440-25, 19500-20, 19500-45, 19500-60, 19540-25, 19570-25, 19600-30, 19600-45, 19620-25, 19620-45, 19680-20, 19700-25, 19700-45, 19700-60, 19710-20, 19710-30, 19720-20 and 19720-45 of the Ministry of Forests schedule (881261).

British Columbia. Rocky Mountain Forest District

Rocky Mountain Forest District resource management records

  • GR-3921
  • Series
  • 1944-2010

This series consists of resource management and other operational records from the Rocky Mountain Forest District for the years 1944-2005. This series may also include records created by the Cranbrook, Kootenay Lake and Invermere Forest Districts, as well as the Nelson and Southern Interior Forest Regions. Note that the names and boundaries of districts and regions varied over the years.

This series includes a wide variety of types of records and subjects. Each record type has been assigned an ORCS number of the Ministry of Forests records schedule (number 881261). The ORCS number is included at the beginning of each file code in the finding aid. These are the file numbers used by the creator. In order to search for a particular file type, try searching for all or part of the ORCS number in the file list.

The following types of records are included in this series:

Integrated resource planning guidelines. They include specific guidelines, and records used in their development, for particular geographic areas or watersheds. Records include photos, maps, aerial photos, lake classification information, lake characteristics and uses, lake management guidelines and correspondence. ORCS 12210-30.

Other resource management records relate to the development of Integrated Resource Use Plans which are designed 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. Types of Local Integrated Resource Use Plans include: Local Resource Use Plans (LRUP) and Coordinated Resource Management Plans (CRMP), coordinated access management plans, and integrated watershed management plans. Files address issues such as the construction of infrastructure, land management and various kinds of land use in the areas, particularly managing grazing land. Records include maps, correspondence, range improvement records, range inspection reports, range management plans, meeting minutes, final plans, and the review of plans. Plans cover various areas in the Kootenay and Rocky Mountain area, including the Libby Dam. ORCS 12600-20, 12600-25, 12600-30, 12600-40, and 12600-60.

Forest planning public meeting files relate to public involvement in the process of planning for the future uses of Provincial Forest resources. ORCS 12080-20.

Range program management records relating to co-operation and liaison with other ministries in the BC Government and with the federal government; most regarding the 1977 agriculture and rural development subsidiary agreement. ORCS 15120-25 and 15120-55.

There are also files on a variety of miscellaneous topics, most of which only contain one or two files. These include: Forest Service projects with old trail improvement progress reports, damages to roads, district program management files, regional resource planning files, Integrated Watershed Management Plans (WMP), integrated weed plan, riparian guidelines recreation system plans, water survey of Canada, recreation maps, a forest planning study related to the Rocky Mountain trench, a research study on range use interactions between livestock and wildlife, information on guide outfitters, archaeological sites maps, and other local resource plans. ORCS 10740-50, 11200-08, 12090-20, 12210-30, 12380-25, 12380-30, 12430-20, 15380-03, 15600-06, 16350-40, 16400-20, 16660-20, 16700-05 and 17340-40.

The series also includes the following administrative records: approved legislation, ombudsman investigations related to range use complaints, and compliance and enforcement year end reports. Transferred under schedule 100001, ARCS numbers 00140-60, 00155-20 and 00400-02.

There are also policy and procedure files regarding a variety of additional topics and issues.

The ministries responsible for the Forest and Range 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 (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)

British Columbia. Rocky Mountain Forest District

Cariboo Forest Region silviculture records

  • GR-3920
  • Series
  • 1950-2005

This series consists of silviculture records from the Cariboo Forest Region and its predecessors, 1950-2005. The region has included a variety of different forest districts over time. Records may regard the following Forest Districts: Williams Lake, Horsefly, Chilcotin, Likely, Cariboo and 100 Mile House. Note that the names and boundaries of districts and regions varied over the years.

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.

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 which provides a history of use and 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, which show completed forest treatments; traverse sheets, which provide location information; pruning examination cards and printouts; planting reports; final harvesting reports; site plans; site preparation reports; and logging inspection reports.

Opening files are arranged in several numerically ordered groups by a classification number. The first six digits (ex. 93A 001) corresponds with the National Topographic System location codes and the last three digits consist of a sequential number applied to each file. File titles may also include the related forest tenure number or other information for that parcel of land.

Silviculture audit and assessment files regard the audits and assessments made by the Ministry to ensure silviculture is carried out in accordance with the regulations and approved silviculture prescriptions as detailed in the Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act. Audits include records concerning a formal examination of the approved silviculture prescription document and the related area to evaluate whether or not there has been compliance with the regulations, the silviculture prescriptions are suitable to attain the objective stated therein, and there is acceptable progress towards achievement of silviculture objectives stated in the approved silviculture prescription. Silviculture prescription audits are carried out on areas under both major licences and areas under the Small Business Forest Enterprise Program (SBFEP) with approved silviculture prescriptions. Types of audits and assessments included are pre-approval assessments and post-approval audits. Records can include correspondence, inspection forms, reports, and compliance reports for soil conservation, regeneration, and free growing obligations.

The series also includes: a procedure file on nursery stock storage and transport; one woodlot licence file; one file on protected areas strategy old growth considerations; and four files on local resource planning including correspondence, meeting minutes and final copies of coordinated access plans for Bonaparte, Kluskus, Spruce Lake and Chilko Lake.

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, 18765-20, 18390-02 and 12605-20 in the Forests Operational Records Classification System (ORCS).

British Columbia. Cariboo Forest Region

Range Branch grazing permits and hay cutting area records

  • GR-4115
  • Series
  • 1914-1991; predominant 1960-1989

This series consists of grazing permits and records related to hay cutting areas created by the central Range Branch of the Ministry of Forests and its predecessors from 1914-1991. Files may also relate to range improvement areas, range surveys and coordinated resource management plans on Crown grazing land.

Records relate to the administration of Grazing Licences and Grazing Permits, including issuance, amendments, transfers, billing, monitoring, policy administration, and plans specific to tenures. Files may also includes records concerning additions and deletions of land and/or authorized Animal Unit Months (AUM) from grazing tenures. Records include tenure application forms, grazing plans, authorized livestock, correspondence, maps, records determining range boundaries and use, and information on range improvements and clearing.

Each file relates to a particular range tenure. Grazing permit files are arranged in alphabetical groups by the names of the permit holder, which may be an individual, a company, a ranch or another group. Hay cutting area (HCA) files are arranged by HCA number.

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

British Columbia. Dept. of Lands and Forests

Campbell River Forest District timber tenures

  • GR-4085
  • Series
  • 1955-2007

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).

British Columbia. Campbell River Forest District

Provincial Forest information files

  • GR-4083
  • Series
  • 1932-1983

This series consists of Provincial Forest information files created by the Ministry of Forests and its predecessors from 1932-1983. The records consists of tables recording the various tenures, permits and other forms of land use in Provincial Forests. These include: special use permits, logging road right of ways, reserves, map notations, land withdrawals for public use (parks, reserves, archaeological sites), and land withdrawals for other uses (personal, agricultural, commercial, industrial use).

The series also includes a file on stumpage rates paid, including statistical and financial information related to timber harvesting.

British Columbia. Ministry of Forests (1976-1986)