New Minister of Forests and BC Cabinet
On December 7th, the new BC Government Cabinet was sworn in, and MLA Bruce Ralston (Surrey-Whalley) became the Minister of Forests. MLA Ralston was previously the Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. Nathan Cullen (Stikine) is the new Minister of Water Land and Resource Stewardship, taking over from Josie Osborne, who is now the Minister of Energy Mines and Low Carbon Innovation. Katrine Conroy, formerly the Minister of Forests, is now Minister of Finance. Minister Ralston's Mandate Letter Minister Cullen's Mandate Letter read the news release for the full list of the new cabinet posts
2023 BCCFA Conference and AGM
June 6-9, 2023 in Kamloops
The annual BCCFA event will be moving back to the spring... Save the dates! More information will be coming in the new year
Who knew that there is actually a footwear of choice for community forestry folks? The choice was obvious at the 2022 event in Nakusp!
Important Announcements and Meeting Notes
Commercial Thinning Operational Trials Webinar
Community forest managers are invited to join in a Zoom meeting on January 6th to learn about the provincial commercial thinning project. Jennifer has been contacted by the Project Team, which includes MOF, UBC, and industry members to see if there are community forests that might be interested in participating in operational trials. Please contact jgunter@bccfa.ca if you are interested and have not received the meeting invite.
Canadian Biomass Magazine - BC community forests get funding for wildfire risk reduction projects read more
Forest Operations Maps - do your onboarding now!
Yes - here is another reminder! The Forest Operations Map (FOM) depicting the approximate geographic location of proposed cutblocks and roads will soon be required. Once regulations have been approved, there will be a transition period. An online platform has been developed to facilitate licensee FOM submissions and community review and comment. George Brcko, our president and manager of the Wells Gray CF, has done the onboarding process. With his 1 CP, he reports that the uploading process was seamless. He recommends getting going now since that will make it easier when it is required. contact Julius.Huhs@gov.bc.ca
Community Forest Summer Students
We are pleased to announce that the Sunshine Coast and the Lower North Thompson Community Forests will each host 2 undergraduate students for the summer months in 2023. The BCCFA/UBC program is funded to support employment opportunities for undergraduate students in the Faculty of Forestry, and to support community forestry.
Conference Reporting
Check out the sessions summary for photos and condensed reporting. The detailed notes have more information on the sessions.
New Community Forest Collaboration
More than 20 years of work culminated in a historic signing on Nov. 21. Representatives of the Shuswap Band, Town of Golden and Columbia Shuswap Regional District Area A Rural Golden met at the Shuswap Band office near Invermere to sign a historic memorandum of understanding regarding a possible community forest. read more
Want to Learn about Thinning Practices in Finland?
If you are interested in a guided tour, email Ken Day at j.kenneth.day@gmail.com.
The data and stories gathered in this year’s report provide tangible evidence of the success and significance of community forestry in BC.
The Forest Enhancement Society of BCAnnounces New Board
Dave Peterson will be the new board chair. Current FESBC Directors Sarah Fraser and Brian Banfill will return to the board and five new Directors have been appointed: Trish Dohan, Ian Meier, John Massier, Ken Day, and Michael Kelly. read more
Events
78th Annual Truck Loggers Association Convention and Trade Show Vancouver, January 18 – 20, 2023 more information
Western Forestry Contractors Association 2023 Conference Victoria, February 1-3, 2023 - a combination of virtual and in-person. registration
Association of BC Forest Professionals 2023 Conference and 75th Anniversary Prince George, February 8-10, 2023. The event will be a combination of in-person and live-streaming. registration
2023 SISCO Winter Workshop - Silviculture For Future Forest Management
Kelowna, February 21 - 23, 2023 more information
2023 Northern Interior Silviculture Winter Conference
Prince George, March 7-8, 2023 more information
BC Council of Forest Industries - Annual COFI Convention Prince George, April 12-14, 2023 registration information
