Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson has announced the reappointment of four board members to the Forest Practices Board for terms of two years each.

The appointees are professional forester Andrea Lyall, professional forester Dave Patterson, author and outdoorsman Mike Nash, and professional forester Bill Dumont.

Lyall is an independent consultant and has worked with the Ministry of Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations; Coast Forest Management; Western Forest Products; Canfor; and the Makah Tribal Council. She presently serves on the board for Tree Canada and for the last four years has been on the UBC First Nations Council of Advisors.

A professional forester with 30 years of experience, Patterson joined Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd. in 2010 as manager of market affairs. A North Vancouver resident, he has spent 23 years working for Weldwood of Canada Ltd. in Williams Lake and Vancouver.

Nash is a well-known outdoorsman and naturalist with extensive experience in forestry, wilderness conservation and recreation matters in northern B.C. He has participated in a range of natural resource planning, advisory and steering committees. Author of four books and other published works, Nash resides in Prince George.

Dumont has worked in the forest sector in B.C. and internationally for more than 40 years, including 27 years with Western Forest Products in Port Alice, Haida Gwaii, Port McNeill, Vancouver and Campbell River. Now a consultant, he also served as chief executive officer of Sarawak Forestry Corporation in Malaysia. Dumont lives in Cobble Hill on Vancouver Island.

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

Contacts:

Brennan Clarke
Public Affairs Officer
Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5621

Helen Davies
Communications Manager
Forest Practices Board
250 213-4708