Leaders in Forest Certification
Spray Lake Sawmills’ commitment to sustainable forestry is third party certified under the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Forest Management Standard which is endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
The SFI program is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization with almost 1,300 government and NGO members and more than 16,000 volunteer experts in 161 countries.
PEFC, with more than 330 million hectares of certified forests, is the world’s largest non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting Sustainable Forest Management. SFI makes up close to 40% of PEFC globally. Spray Lake Sawmills has been internationally certified since 2013.
2023 SFI Audit Report Highlights:
- Spray Lakes sawmills, Ltd. has developed and continues to implement an effective SFI program that meets the requirements of the SFI 2022, Section 2, Forest Management Standard.
2022 SFI Audit Report Highlights:
- Forest regeneration activities occur promptly after harvest.
- Examination of recent and well-established regenerated forests found them to be well stocked and thriving.
- When crossing streams, the Company uses bridges and box-culverts rather than steel or plastic culverts to ensure that streambeds are not disturbed. No evidence of erosion issues was found during the audit.
- A variety of buffers are used to protect riparian features, all are full reserves with no harvesting allowed. The Company has developed a Critical Habitat Assessment Tool which is used to record and assess water crossing sites and to determine the appropriate crossing type to utilize.
To read the Bureau Veritas 2021 SFI audit report please visit:
2021 SFI Audit Report Highlights:
- The auditor visited nine sites during the audit including 3 active harvest sites, 3 sites which had been planted this year, and two free growing regeneration sites. More than two dozen water crossings were inspected, as well as, two road rehabilitation sites.
- Soil erosion is controlled on all sites through careful layout of harvest operations.
- When crossing streams the Company uses bridges and box-culverts rather than steel or plastic culverts to ensure that streambeds are not disturbed.
- During the audit more than two dozen water crossings were observed, all were functioning and sound.
To read the Bureau Veritas 2021 SFI audit report please visit:
2020 SFI Audit Report Highlights:
- The auditor visited eleven sites during the audit including 3 active harvest sites, 3 sites which had been planted this year, and two free growing regeneration sites. More than a two dozen water crossings were inspected, as well as, one recently constructed road, and two road rehabilitation sites.
- Examination of recent and well-established regenerated forests were found to be well stocked and thriving.
- Soil erosion is controlled on all sites through careful layout of harvest operations.
- When crossing streams, the Company uses bridges and box-culverts, rather than culverts to ensure that streambeds are not disturbed.
- No evidence of erosion issues were found during the audit.
- All sites had plenty of down-woody-debris.
Notable Practices:
NP1 – The identification and protection of endangered plant species during preharvest layout and planning by Spray Lake Sawmills staff is of the highest quality.
To read the Bureau Veritas 2020 SFI audit report please visit:
2019 SFI Audit Report Highlights:
- Forest regeneration activities occur promptly after harvest.
- Soil erosion is controlled on all sites through careful layout of harvest operations.
- When crossing streams the Company uses bridges and box-culverts rather than culverts to ensure that streambeds are not disturbed.
- No evidence of erosion issues was found during the audit.
Notable Practices:
NP1 – Spray Lake Sawmills practices forestry in such a way as to minimize disturbance to water courses and riparian areas this can be seen from its minimization of water crossings, which significantly increases haul distances, and their use of box culverts on all riparian areas which ensures that stream bottoms are not impacted. (PM 3.1)
NP2 – Spray Lake Sawmills is a great supporter of local communities, by extensively supporting educational, recreational, and athletic causes. (PM 12.1)
To read the Bureau Veritas 2019 SFI audit report please visit:
2018 SFI Audit Report Highlights:
- Soil erosion is controlled on all sites through careful layout of harvest operations.
- When crossing streams the Company uses bridges and box-culverts rather than culverts as an extra (superior) measure of protection.
- During the audit, eight water crossings were observed, all were functioning and sound.
- From examining plans in the office and harvest areas on the ground it is apparent that visual quality is a high priority for the Company.
Notable Practices:
Np 2: Spray Lake Sawmills protects biodiversity by ensuring that rare plants are identified and protected prior to operations. Staff take great efforts to identify even single saplings of rare species and glades as small as 0.2 ha (PM 4.1 Ind 1).
To read the Bureau Veritas 2018 SFI audit report please visit:
Spray Lakes Sawmills – US 1766366 – SFI FM – SF63 – sv3
2017 SFI Audit Report Highlights:
Notable Practices:
NP 1 : Spray Lake Sawmills undertakes it’s forest management activities to a superior level. This can be seen in many of its day-to-day activities, such as:
- Exceeding regulatory requirements in the protection of sacred First Nations sites (PM 6.1 Ind. 2).
- Using bridges and box culverts where a simple culvert could be used. This eliminates stream channel and bed disturbance and provides for easy removal (PM 3.2, Ind. 3).
- The protection of both formal and informal recreation trails across the forest. On block 2358 an informal trail was re-established after operations were completed. (PM 5.1 Ind. 2).
- The Company often exceeds both the regulatory and certification forest management requirements through its sustainable forestry program.
To read the Bureau Veritas 2017 SFI audit report please visit:
2016 SFI Audit Report Highlights:
- 12 water crossings were observed, all were functioning and sound
- Two road decommissioning jobs were visited where full road removal was being undertaken and the land restored to its natural drainage
- SLS maintains a comprehensive program to conserve biological diversity at both the stand and landscape scales, through planning, implementation, and monitoring
- Site inspections confirmed that SLS contractors retained snags and living wildlife trees on all harvested areas
- The Company replants and monitors regeneration on 100% of its blocks
To read the Bureau Veritas 2016 SFI audit report please visit:
2015 SFI Audit Report Highlights:
- SLS maintains a comprehensive program to conserve biological diversity at both the stand and landscape scales, through planning, implementation, and monitoring
- Auditors witnessed an active program of public participation
- Stream crossings were particularly well done
- Field visits confirm an active roads removal program that returns the landscape to original slopes and renders in-block roads effectively inaccessible
- The roads rehabilitation program is amongst the most effective the audit team has witnessed anywhere
- Harvest operations are well done, with good residual structure and downed woody debris evident in all blocks
- It replants and monitors regeneration on 100% of its blocks
- No herbicide use
2015 FSC Audit Report Highlights:
- On many levels, performance observed was exemplary
- The Company’s Detailed Forest Management Plan is comprehensive
- 100% of its harvest sites are planted
- Stream crossings are well done
- The Company strives to maintain a high level of care for trails
- Many opportunities are provided for public involvement and public participation
To read the Bureau Veritas 2015 FSC audit report please visit:
If you have questions, comments or concerns. Please fill out the contact form below.
2014 FSC Audit Report Highlights:
- Extensive public consultation is provided
- Trails are well protected
- Riparian buffers and stream crossings are very well done
- Worked with ENGO to restore fish habitat
- Reclamation is quick and effective, roads disappear
- Exceedingly high standards of forest management
- No negative findings
If you have questions, comments or concerns. Please fill out the contact form below.
