Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson appointed Ralph Archibald of Victoria and Dr. William McGill of Prince George to the Forest Practices Board.

Existing board member, Dr. Rachel Holt, has been re-appointed to the board as the vice chair.

Archibald has 40 years experience in the natural resource sector, starting as a research assistant in his native Ontario before moving to B.C. in 1981 to work with the Province's environment and forest ministries. Archibald held progressively more senior positions in both the environment and forests ministries before retiring as assistant deputy minister of environmental stewardship, Ministry of Environment, in 2010.

In 2003 he received the Bill Young award for excellence in integrated forest management from the Association of Professional Biologists and the Association of BC Forest Professionals.

McGill, a professor of ecosystem science and management at the University of Northern British Columbia, has 40 years of academic experience, including leadership as department chair, associate dean and dean. He specializes in the study of biogeochemical cycles and their application to global change, sustainable land use, resource recovery and soil remediation.

A founding board member of the Haida Gwaii Higher Education Society, McGill is also vice chair of the Resources North Association, and vice president of the Prince George Chamber of Commerce. Career highlights include being named a Fellow of the Agricultural Institute of Canada, of the Canadian Society of Soil Science and of the Soil Science Society of America.

Both Archibald and McGill are appointed to the board for an initial term of two years. Holt has been a board member since 2006 and has been re-appointed until 2013.

The eight-member Forest Practices Board is B.C.'s independent watchdog for sound forest and range practices, reporting its findings and recommendations directly to the public and government. The board:

• Audits forest and range practices on public lands.
• Audits appropriateness of government enforcement.
• Investigates public complaints.
• Undertakes special investigations of current forestry issues.
• Participates in administrative appeals.
• Makes recommendations for improvement to practices and legislation.

More information on the Forest Practices Board is available online at: www.fpb.gov.bc.ca

Contacts:

Brennan Clarke
Public Affairs Office
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261

Helen Davies
Communications Manager
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4708