MACKENZIE – The Forest Practices Board is launching a limited-scope audit in the Mackenzie Natural Resource District to assess how licensees manage biodiversity in forest stands through the use of block reserves. Fieldwork for the audit will begin Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, and will examine forestry activities of three licensees from Sept. 1, 2023, to Sept. 26, 2025, to evaluate compliance with the Forest and Range Practices Act. The three licensees selected for the audit are BC Timber Sales Prince George area, the McLeod Lake Mackenzie Community Forest and Conifex Timber Inc. The Mackenzie district spans about 6.41 million hectares within B.C.’s Omineca region. …Sixteen First Nations have overlapping territories in the area, including the Kwadacha and Tsay Keh Dene Nations and the McLeod Lake Indian Band. First Nations rely on the area for cultural practices, sustenance and spiritual well-being. Recent years have seen an increase in woodland licences and forest-industry partnerships with local Nations.