As the weather warms up and more people are out enjoying the backcountry, the B.C. government is reminding the public to respect Crown land and obey the law so everyone can enjoy British Columbia’s beautiful lakes, rivers and forests.

If people spot a potential natural resource violation, it’s easy to alert provincial enforcement agencies so they can look into it further. Using either a toll-free “tips line” or an online form, they can quickly submit reports about suspected violations of laws and regulations enforced by the ministry’s natural resource officers.

Natural resource officers regularly monitor high-risk areas and activities for potential damage to economic, social, cultural or environmental values. The officers’ presence in the field and their ability to take appropriate enforcement actions (including issuing violation ticket fines) help deter illegal behaviour.

Natural resource violations may involve:

• improper use or development of Crown land
• illegal cabins or structures
• unauthorized occupation of Crown land (squatting)
• illegal dumping
• alterations to foreshores or riparian areas
• land tenure issues
• forestry operations
• heritage conservation concerns
• issues related to recreation sites and trails
• illegal fire use
• environmental damage

To report a suspected natural resource violation, individuals can call 1 877 952-7277 toll-free or #7277 on a cellphone. The caller will then have the option of reporting the suspected violation to the Compliance and Enforcement Branch or the Ministry of Environment’s Conservation Officer Service, depending on the type of incident involved.

Individuals can also report a suspected natural resource violation online by filling out a form at: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hen/nrv/report.htm

All submitted reports are entered into a central database and the appropriate authorities are then notified to investigate the incident or concern.

Quick Facts:

• Natural resource officers are the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations’ principal inspectors and investigators for many violations related to the natural resource sector.
• Natural resource officers have the authority to enforce 46 different resource management laws and regulations, including the Land Act, Water Sustainability Act, Park Act, Heritage Conservation Act, Forest Act, Forest and Range Practices Act, and Wildfire Act.
• The procedure for reporting a wildfire, abandoned campfire or other fire-related infraction remains unchanged. In those cases, people should immediately call the BC Wildfire Service at 1 800 663-5555 toll-free or *5555 on a cellphone.

Learn More:

More information about the Compliance and Enforcement Branch and the role of natural resource officers can be found at: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hen/