Project Examples
Natural resources investment review/due diligence
Pellet plant feasibility study: DBA conducted an analysis of the client’s business plan for purchase of a sea port, acquiring a timber supply and constructing and operating pellet plants on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska. We researched the financial, technical, social, environmental and business opportunities, and constraints. A business case financial and technical analysis was conducted to determine feasibility. Risks were assessed and a SWOT analysis was conducted.
Environmental auditing/monitoring
Over 100 audit projects have been carried out since 1987 to the present.
Ontario independent forest management audit: Ontario has a legislated requirement to perform an independent audit on forest management agreement holders every five years. DBA led a team of four to five auditors on six audits. Forest management strategic and operational planning, logging, roads, silviculture, records, and incorporation of public and indigenous input to planning were audited. The audit covered a five year period and the auditees were the FMA agreement holder and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Audit of certification agency: DBA was engaged to assist in auditing an international certifying agency to Forest Stewardship Council auditing standards. As part of the FSC team, DBA audited the certifying body by reviewing evidence of the agency’s registration projects in Mexico, South America and Asia. International files were reviewed and interviews were conducted with auditee staff with international project experience.
Monitoring blow down harvesting in a park: A large storm created massive forest blow down in Juan de Fuca and French Beach BC Provincial Parks. We prepared a remediation plan and monitored the extraction of downed trees, protection of standing trees and infrastructure (e.g. a campsite and trails), clean up, and restoration of trails and ecosystems.
Certification analyses
To ISO 14001: DBA, with an associate, designed and implemented an environmental management system for Skeena Cellulose Inc., a large forest products company based in northern British Columbia. Internal business systems were analysed, new systems were designed to conform to the ISO standards, staff were trained, and the new procedures were tested.
Forest valuation and natural resource economic analysis
We have conducted over 100 projects in this field. A typical forest valuation involved the following: Cruised and evaluated standing timber, estimated/researched logging and transportation costs, researched appropriate log and forest product markets, determined a risk factor and estimated the net value of the timber on the property. Some purposes of the appraisals were to provide timber value estimates for land purchase, ecological gifts, to set land and timber sale prices, arbitrate disputes and trespasses, acquire bank loans, for taxation purposes, and land expropriation for highways development.
Guatemala “La Perla” project: DBA field reviewed the forest and determined timber volumes and other forest outputs, including lumber and non-timber resources such as wildlife and water protection. A fair local market value for all forest outputs was estimated to enable the purchase of the farm by a local aboriginal community (see featured project).
Valuation and economic factors involved in forest appraisals: client goals and purpose of valuation, legislation, forest inventory (quality and volume), harvest and transportation systems, forest products markets, local labour, neighbors concerns, environmental and landscape restrictions, and available technology.
Water and soil remediation planning
Watershed restoration planning in Northwestern British Columbia: The project involved determining sediment sources from road construction, harvesting and slides. These potential sources were caused by industrial activity that might affect streams and rivers in the Telkwa watershed in northern British Columbia. DBA worked with local resource businesses and indigenous groups. An overview assessment was conducted and fieldwork determined the impacts from logging and related activities. A report and map was made showing the actual and potential effects, and recommendations were made to repair any sedimentation and deforestation.
Forest environmental assessments
The client wanted to blend a residential development into the natural forest environment located beside the area planned for homes. The goal was to retain the natural characteristics of forest directly adjacent to the Vancouver Island development, while ensuring resident safety from tree windthrow.
DBA assessed individual trees and prepared a plan to remove the most dangerous and monitor the rest. We prescribed native trees and shrubs for the interface between the homes and the forest, in conjunction with a landscape architect.
Urban/forest interface analyses
The project area has a long summer drought period leading to extreme fire hazard. We conducted a forest fuel inventory and prepared a plan to reduce fire hazard in the forested ecosystem around the proposed residential development area.