Williams Lake Community Forest earns BC Community Forestry Award

Courtesy of the Government of BC:

Strong partnerships, wildfire protection and community involvement helped the Williams Lake Community Forest win the 2023 Robin Hood Memorial Award for excellence in community forestry.

“Community forestry continues to make a valuable contribution to overall forest management in our province,” said the Hon. Bruce Ralston, BC's Minister of Forests. “The Williams Lake Community Forest is contributing to the transition to a modern forestry sector, supporting stronger, more resilient communities. Through their commitment to innovative forest practices and partnerships, they are generating economic opportunities for British Columbians.”

The Robin Hood Memorial Award for Excellence in Community Forestry, established in 2016, is given annually to the B.C. community forest that best exemplifies the values exhibited by the B.C. community-forest program and the late B.C. community forestry pioneer, Robin Hood. The award winner receives a $10,000 grant. The winner is chosen for their excellence in:

• community leadership;
• providing local and social economic opportunity;
• innovation; and
• passion for community forestry.

The Williams Lake Community Forest has many programs designed to benefit the local community, uphold best practices in community forestry, and contribute to the local economy. Some of those programs include:

• robust project grant fund for local community groups, with contributions of 5% of the community forest’s annual profit;
• strong relationship-building between the founding partners, the City of Williams Lake and the Williams Lake First Nation;
• strong wildfire reduction program, treating 850 hectares to date;
• direct contribution to the local economy through direct sales to small local mills and other value-added companies; and
• extensive community involvement, including school tours and building 75 kilometres of recreational trails.

“The WLCF was years in the making. It took hard work and the committed leadership of key people to believe in the potential of the partnership,” said George Brcko, president, BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA). “They said yes to collaboration and to the start of a new relationship between the local Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.”

Shane Berg, B.C.’s chief forester, presented the award during the BCCFA annual general meeting in Kamloops on Thursday, June 8, 2023. The BCCFA is a non-profit society that advocates for community forestry in B.C. It works closely with the provincial government on forest policy, providing input on community forest initiatives and expanding community forestry.

Community forest agreements are long-term area-based tenures designed to encourage community involvement in the management of local forests, while expanding economic opportunities and opening doors to local job creation.

Quick Facts:

• The Williams Lake Community Forest is a partnership between the Williams Lake First Nation and the City of Williams Lake.
• The Williams Lake Community Forest covers 28,840 hectares in two parcels: one west of and one east of the City of Williams Lake.

Learn More:

BC Community Forest Association: http://bccfa.ca

Williams Lake Community Forest: https://williamslakecommunityforest.com/

Learn more about Community Forest Agreements: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/forestry/forest-tenures/timber-harvesting-rights/community-forest-agreements

A tribute with more information about Robin Hood’s impact on the community forest program can be found on the BC Community Forest Association website: http://bccfa.ca/rip-our-beloved-robin-hood

WL Community Forest Grant Opportunity

Courtesy of the Williams Lake Community Forest:

The Williams Lake Community Forest’s 2022 Granting Application six-week window is currently open and accepting applications for 2023 projects until 4 pm on Friday, November 18, 2022.

Proponents applying for grants must be living and/or working in the WLCF “local area” which is defined as the City of Williams Lake, and CRD Electoral Areas D, E, and F. This area extends North to Marguerite, south to Dog Creek and follows the east side of the Fraser River. Along Highway 97 the eligible area extends south to include 141 Mile, and northeast encompassing Bosk Lake, Crooked Lake, Quesnel Lake and Mitchell Lake. A map is provided on the WLCF website.

Applications can come from registered charities, non-profit and/or community organizations such as Parent Advisory Councils, clubs including 4H clubs, and community associations. Public, Private and Indigenous schools and educators are also invited to apply if they are within the “local area” described above.

Funds are targeted toward:

• projects enhancing economic development;

• recreation and recreational structures including trails, signs and kiosks;

• culture and the arts projects as they relate to forests and forest values;

• capital improvements;

• education and outreach projects for all age groups; and

• other projects particularly related to forest resource values

There is a pre-established set of evaluation criteria provided with the application form, along with a budget template. Five per cent of annual WLCF profits are set aside to be distributed to the community through this granting program.

The Williams Lake Community Forest has increased its annual allocation for 2023 to $65,000. Previous funding amounts were $23,500 in 2019 and $45,000 in 2020 - 2022.

Paper application forms are available at the Williams Lake Community Forest Office at 177 Yorston Street, or can be found online at https://williamslakecommunityforest.com/community-granting/.

Cariboo RD Board debates WL Community Forest

Yesterday, 2 people were looking for "CRD and Community Forest"....

This past Friday, Cariboo RD Area 'F' Director Joan Sorley, with residents from Big Lake, Horsefly/Likely and Miocene in the public gallery, attempted to convince her colleagues to pass a motion to authorize a letter of support for the WL Community Forest on condition that an agreement be sought with respect to revenue and consultation.  Director Sorley expressed disappointment that a number of meetings had occurred, commitments were made and those commitments were not acted upon and residents of Big Lake and surrounding communities are seeking a Community Forest that works for everyone and if no solution is forthcoming - then the Community Forest may impact residents to a maximum of 100 years (5 - 20 year renewable community forest license)

City of WL Director (and Mayor) Kerry Cook argued against the motion citing the fact that the application for the WL Community Forest is now before the Minister and went over the history of the WL Community Forest which goes back several years including it being worked on by former WL Mayor Scott Nelson's Council

Area 'J' Director Roger William said he was concerned about 'in-fighting' between non-aboriginal/aboriginal communities but sympathized with the WL Indian Band to getting a Community Forest license in place for their members...

Area 'E' Director Byron Kemp said that he was disappointed with the lack of consultation from the City of WL on the Community Forest, given 20% of it is in Area 'E', even though the previous Director (Steve Mazur) didn't take issue with it during the last term (2008-2011)

100 Mile Director (and Mayor) Mitch Campsall asked Director Sorley if the Big Lake community was taking the same stance towards Tolko/West Fraser as it was towards Williams Lake

Quesnel Director (and Mayor) Mary Sjostrom questioned the need to write a letter of support, given the Ministry of Forests was going to do consultation with all sides (Big Lake & Williams Lake) in any event.  A point repeated by CRD Chair Al Richmond

The Board voted to defeat the letter of support motion, as proposed by Director Sorley.  The Board also voted to defeat the following motion:

'That the agenda item summary from Bernice Crowe, Executive Assistant, dated November 14, 2012, regarding an item referred from the September 19th and October 24th meetings on the Proposed Williams Lake Community Forest, be received. Further, that a letter be forwarded to the City of Williams Lake and the Williams Lake Indian Band Community informing them that the Cariboo Regional District is deferring their request for the Cariboo Regional District to administer 5% of the net profits generated from the Community Forest application until all communities involved are in agreement. Further, that a letter be forwarded to Minister Steve Thomson, Minister of Forest Lands and Natural Resource Operations informing him that the Cariboo Regional District supports the request from Big Lake, Horsefly and Miocene to meet with him to work towards a more equitable arrangement for the proposed Williams Lake Community Forest.'

As I've said previously - I long suspected the Board will vote to not involve themselves in the fight between Big Lake and Williams Lake/Sugarcane over the proposed WL Community Forest.  Meanwhile - I profound regret the tone used by 100 Mile Director Mitch Campsall in his comments.  Comparing the request of Big Lake on the WL Community Forest to private forest companies showed that he hadn't read the background documents but kudos to Director Sorley for staying above the fray...

Finally - during a brief recess, Williams Lake Director Kerry Cook boasted to The Rush:

From the City's perspective - the Board made the right decision...

I wonder if the City's Community Forest partner - WL Indian Band and their Chief, Ann Louie, will feel the same way...