Cherryville residents hope a review will lead to changes within a government agency.
The Forest Practices Board will examine the activities of the B.C. Timber Sales program in the Okanagan-Shuswap starting Monday.
“I hope rural communities will have some influence on forest management in watersheds next to communities,” said Hank Cameron, Cherryville director.
Cherryville has had a long-standing conflict with BCTS over the agency’s plans to allow harvesting on Cherry Ridge. The community says logging could trigger slides, which would negatively impact the watershed and private property.
Residents have also accused BCTS of not sufficiently consulting with them over its plans.
The Forest Practices Board auditors will examine all operational planning, harvesting, road, silviculture and wildfire protection practices for compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act and the Wildfire Act.
“They will look at hydrology and slope stability studies and we will play a role in that,” said Cameron.
The audit includes all forestry activities carried out in the last year in the area, which stretches from the U.S. border to Shuswap Lake.