Sustainable Forest Management Plan
The Teal Jones Group (Teal-Jones) has developed a Sustainable Forest Management Plan reflecting the company’s commitment to the responsible management of resources under its stewardship. This Plan was developed with input from local communities, stakeholders, and Indigenous communities through Teal-Jones’ Public Advisory Group. Every year Teal-Jones updates its Sustainable Forest Management Plan and creates an Annual Report to document the progress for each indicator.
The following is a summary of some of the highlights of the current 2024 Annual Report.
- Teal-Jones’ team of Qualified Professionals planned operations consistent with the approved Forest Stewardship Plan. This Plan reflect the most current, science-based research for planning and procedures to meet Government Objectives for resource values. Development of the Forest Stewardship Plan included extensive review and consultation with local Indigenous communities, Qualified Professionals, communities, stakeholders, other tenure holders, and the public. Ongoing information sharing and field assessments of areas with local First Nations, communities and special interest groups is a cornerstone of the ongoing planning process.
- To ensure safe and healthy workplaces, Teal-Jones’ operations continue to be SAFE Certified by the BC Forest Safety Council. Prime Contractors are also SAFE Certified, and Teal-Jones conducts rigorous, ongoing reviews of their Safety Management System.
- The Honeymoon Bay Operation did not operate in 2024 due to global economic uncertainty. However, the Sustainable Forest Management Plan has been completed and all information relative to the various Indicators have been reported where applicable (e.g. planting programs, meetings with First Nations, contributions to the local economy, etc.).
- Teal-Jones does not export logs and continues to provide jobs through harvested volume consistent with the Allowable Annual Cut (AAC) of our tenures.
- Local forest values were maintained through ongoing communications with communities, forest dependent businesses and recreation groups. For example, Teal-Jones assisted 1 beekeeper, and recreation groups with access to our tenure subject to safety protocols.
- A total of 258,000 trees were planted in 2024 across the Defined Forest Area. Of the total, approximately 36% were Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) and Yellow-cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis).
- Educational outreach, community meetings, public consultation and participation opportunities are integral to the sustainable management of forests for local communities. In 2024, all Public Advisory Group meetings were conducted virtually to increase knowledge and education of Sustainable Forest Management. Financial contributions to the community for 2024 totaled $4.1 million.
- Ongoing, open, and respectful communications with Indigenous Communities to foster meaningful engagement continues to be a top priority. Information sharing continues to improve as relationships with local First Nations evolve.
- As there were no operations in 2024, Teal-Jones continues to commit to expand on employment opportunities for Indigenous people and contractors when operations resume.