WL Community Forest approved

Editor's Note - this came up at today's Cariboo RD Board meeting - while Area F Director Joan Sorley was disappointed, City of WL Director (and WL City Councillor) Ivan Bonnell expressed that he was happy that the City of Williams Lake had signed the Community Forest agreement with Victoria/WL Indian Band.  I wonder what steps will occur next from the communities of Horsefly, Big Lake and Miocene but I can only imagine that they will not be happy to hear this latest development…

From the Government of BC:

The Province has signed a community forest agreement with the City of Williams Lake and the Williams Lake Indian Band, enhancing economic opportunities and forest stewardship in the Central Cariboo, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced today.

The agreement covers 29,000 hectares and includes two sites: Ne-sextsine, or Flat Rock, which is just west of the city and Peskwenkwinem, or Potato Mountain, which is located between the Likely and Horsefly Roads. The total allowable annual cut on the two sites is 40,000 cubic metres.

The agreement has been in the works since 2007, and will be managed by a partnership between the city and the band.

Community forest agreements are long-term, area-based tenures designed to encourage community involvement in, and management of, local forests. A community forest is managed by a local government, community group or First Nation for the benefit of the entire community.

The Hon. Steve Thomson - Minister of Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations said:

“Community forests are an important and growing opportunity for regions like the Cariboo. They provide opportunities for employment and economic growth while enhancing the working relationships between communities and local First Nations.”

While Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett said:

“This is a great step forward for the City of Williams Lake, the Williams Lake Indian Band and for communities across the region. The new community forest agreement will have an important impact on the local economy and on community’s ability to manage its own forest resource.”

Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook said:

“We are very pleased with the community forest agreement and look forward to working with our partners in the Williams Lake Indian Band to further diversify the local economy and create more business for the entire region. It’s a great opportunity for both the city and band to deepen their relationship as business partners and neighbours.”

Finally - Williams Lake Indian Band Chief Ann Louie stated:

“The agreement helps the T'exelcemc people achieve their vision of working in unity to strengthen our Secwepemc culture, while helping us build a healthy and prosperous community. We have a very good relationship with the city and we will continue to work together to build economic opportunities and ensure the sustainability of our local forests.”

From the City of Williams Lake:

The recent approval of the Williams Lake Community Forest by the provincial government provides a new opportunity for forest management in the Cariboo. WL Community Forest LP, a limited partnership formed between the City and the Band, will hold the license and will manage the forest.
After years of planning, B.C.’s newest community forest aims to work closely with community residents to ensure that local values and interests are integrated into forest management.

 The Community Forest has two areas: one to the west of Williams Lake, between Esler and the Fraser River; and the other stretching east from Big Lake. The Community Forest Agreement will allow an annual harvest of 40,000 m3/year or about 800 truckloads from the two areas. All surplus revenues of the Limited Partnership will be shared equally between the City and the Williams Lake Indian Band.

Both communities have pursued a Community Forest Agreement since the program was created in 1998. In 2007 the City received an invitation for a 20,000 m3/year annual allowable cut, but in 2009 signed a letter of understanding with the Williams Lake Indian Band to pursue a joint Community Forest Agreement. In May 2011, the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations extended an amended invitation inviting the two communities to apply together for a 40,000 m3 annual allowable cut.

In November 2011, the City and the Band announced their limited partnership, and began the process of drafting a community forest application and forest management plan for the Ministry of Forests and Natural Resource Operations. Extensive public consultation was held, particularly in the area of the Big Lake block. As a result of that consultation, the partners agreed to establish a standing committee of the Community Forest’s Board of Directors. The Standing Committee will be established collaboratively and will be made up of people who have strong community and resource interests, and will identify issues and make recommendations directly to the Board of Directors. In addition, the partners contribute 5% of the net profit from the Community Forest to fund community projects through a grant program, and will rely on the recommendations of the Standing Committee to decide on the distribution of the funds.

“We are very pleased to have this opportunity to take a direct hand in the management of lands in our traditional territory,’ says Williams Lake Indian Band Chief Ann Louie. “Over the next year, our key goal is to strengthen collaboration and build relations with our neighbours. We have started work with community representatives to arrange a public meeting to discuss our route.”

“This application has been years in the making, and I am proud of our partnership with Chief Ann Louie and the Williams Lake Indian Band,” says Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook. “WL Community Forest is a strong example of the great things that can be achieved when communities work together.”