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Government boosts community forest opportunities

According to a news release issued by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, the Government of British Columbia is facilitating changes for rural communities across the province through economic and land management opportunities. This includes allowing these communities to increase the size of their respective community forests.
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The District of Vanderhoof Community Forest currently occupies an area of approximately 23,000 hectares. This could soon increase due to government changes in land management opportunities. (Black Press files)

According to a news release issued by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, the Government of British Columbia is facilitating changes for rural communities across the province through economic and land management opportunities. This includes allowing these communities to increase the size of their respective community forests.

This announcement was made by Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development at the BC Community Forest Association AGM in Burns Lake on May 25.

“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 can be described as a long-term agreement to manage and operate on Crown land, that can be held by a local government, community group, First Nation of community-held corporation, according to the press release. A community forest can also be outlined as a way to inhibit the local monetary and non-monetary benefits that are offered by natural forest resources, typically for the overarching goal of securing long-term employment and economic opportunities for a community and its residents.

Recreational opportunities, such as hiking trails, lakes and other outdoor activities such as cross-country skiing are also available in community forests, generally for the residents of these neighbouring communities to enjoy year round.

Per the new release, there are currently 57 community forests in the province, which includes the District of Vanderhoof Community Forest, which is located just north of Vanderhoof and currently occupies a total area of 23,181 hectares.

The District of Vanderhoof had been expressing interest and pursuing the idea of a community forest for over a decade before Steve Thompson, the previous Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development offered Vanderhoof 45,000 cubic metres per year for a community forest.

According to the District of Vanderhoof website, a Community Forest Agreement, with a term of 25 years, was granted to the District of Vanderhoof on May, 2016. A proposal and management plan for the community forest were both prepared in conjunction with L&M Lumber Ltd., to ensure that social, ecological, and economic sustainability were at the forefront of the communities interests.

“We have been actively working with the provincial government to strengthen the role of people and communities in decisions around the resources they depend on for jobs and community well-being,” said Erik Leslie, president of the BC Community Forest Association. “These are welcome amendments and are being implemented after full consultation with those affected.”

This change comes as a result of amendments made to the Forest Act and Community Tenures Regulation. Due to this change, expanding an existing community forest will be permitted, provided there is available area for it to expand, per the news release.

Further information in the news release states that any expansion of less than 100 hectares will follow a simple, streamlined process. However, potential expansions that would exceed areas greater than 100 hectares would require a more thorough and extensive process, which would include an implementation of a management plan, as well as considerable community engagement to ensure any changes are welcome.

More information regarding community forests in British Columbia can be found online at www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/forest-tenures/timber-harvesting-rights/community-forest-agreements.