40.7% of British Columbia timber inspections in June 2021 resulted in alleged non-compliance.

This is according to a “timber” data query of records posted in the province’s Natural Resource Compliance and Enforcement Database.

Of the 54 June inspection records that the search returned, 22 were allegedly non-compliant. The locations of these alleged violations, and others in the region can be viewed on the Timber Risk Map.

Most (77.3%) of these alleged violations were for the unauthorized removal or damage to Crown timber.

See: Section 52 – Unauthorized Timber Harvesting, Trespass and Tree Spiking – Forest and Range Practices Act – Chapter 69

Crown timber in Canada refers to timber on federal or provincial government land.

Approximately 95% of the province’s timber is publicly owned. The B.C. government authorizes the rights to harvest Crown timber through forest tenures. 

Government of British Columbia

The other five violations were related to the marking and/or transport of timber. Specifically, failure to mark unscaled timber stored or transported, or improper vehicle description.

See: Forest Act – Timber Marking and Transportation Regulation

While tropical forest countries get most of the attention, this data on British Columbia timber inspections shows that Illegal logging and trade risks are global and frequent.

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