Daily Archives: May 28, 2018

The Government of British Columbia is making changes to give rural communities additional economic and land management opportunities, by allowing them to increase the size of their community forest. Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, made the announcement today at the BC Community Forest Association AGM in Burns Lake. “We want to make sure we’re providing a strong economic base for rural communities,” said Donaldson. “This change will help to give community forest operators more options to create local employment opportunities, and also benefit First Nations.” A community forest is a long-term agreement to manage Crown land that may be held by a local government, community group, First Nation or community-held corporation. … There are 57 community forests in the province.

Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Minister Doug Donaldson announced in February 2018 the Panel will review BC’s Forest Inventory Program.  The announcement stated that the Panel members are Clark Binkley, Bill Bourgeois, Valerie LeMay, Ian Moss and Nick Reynolds.  “We have a robust forest inventory program, but it has been 10 years since the program was last reviewed, and since that time, we’ve seen significant changes to our forests, most notably from the mountain pine beetle epidemic and wildfires”, Donaldson said at the announcement.  “Having a reliable inventory is important to garner public trust in how we manage our public forests.” …The Panel would particularly like to hear from users of the forest inventory on how well the inventory is serving their needs, and their ideas on how the inventory can be improved.

Burns Lake – Innovation in forestry typically suggests using new technologies for forest management or forest products and that enhance economic opportunities. The new BC Community Forest Association resource for small tenure holders is about innovation in relationships. The guide offers examples of lessons learned and a framework for developing relationship-based approaches which go beyond the legal requirements for small tenures. The guide was developed for managers of small tenures in BC: community forest agreements, First Nations woodlands licences and woodlot licences, who are working closely with local communities, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, and with provincial, federal, and municipal agencies. “Developing social licence for forest management activities in your community means investing time, resources, and personal effort. Yet the benefits of durable and strengthened relationships with local Indigenous and non-Indigenous people are worth the investment,” concluded Jennifer Gunter, Executive Director of the BCCFA.

Community forests now have a chance to expand, following changes announced by the province on May 25. The announcement came as more than 150 delegates gathered in Burns Lake for the BC Community Forest Association’s (BCCFA) conference and annual general meeting, which took place May 24-26. Forests Minister Doug Donaldson made the announcement during a keynote address at the convention. He said that changes to the laws and regulations governing forests would enable expansions beginning immediately, prompting applause from the crowd. “We want to ensure that we’re providing a strong economic base for rural communities,” he said, adding that the amendments would allow community forest operators to create more jobs. Community forests will be allowed to expand “provided there is available area,” according to a government medial release.

The Nahmint Valley south of Sproat Lake near Port Alberni is a spectacular piece of Vancouver Island. The mountains are tall and so are the trees, but the conservation group Ancient Forest Alliance says too many of the tallest and oldest trees are being cut down. The group recently became aware of logging in the area and on a recent trip saw an orange ribbon with “Falling Boundary” written it.  It was near a Douglas fir that was over three metres wide and was the 10th widest Douglas fir tree in B.C. according to the BC BigTree registry. On a return trip a few days later, it had been cut down. “We’re standing here right beside a Douglas fir tree that was cut down just this past week, larger than the largest one at Cathedral Grove,” said TJ Watt, co-founder of Ancient Forest Alliance (AFA), on Friday.