February 2014 Newsletter

BCCFA 2014 Conference and AGM - Save the dates - June 12-14, 2014 in Williams Lake. Hosted by the Likely-Xat'sull and the Esk'etemc Community Forests. Our co-hosts are offering a unique approach to the conference this year by changing up the setting. with less time in the conference room and more time in the field. This will be a not-to-be-missed time for connecting with people who are fully engaged in the management, governance and oversight of community forests. 

Conference Schedule

• Thursday, June 12 - Conference and Field Trip at Alkali Lake, hosted by the Esk'etemc Community Forest. Bus transportation from Williams Lake provided. Meet and Greet at 6:00 pm at Williams Lake Tourism Discovery Centre. BCCFA President's Welcome at 7:30 pm.
• Friday, June 13 - Conference, and Field Trip at Likely, hosted by the Likely-Xat'sull Community Forest. AGM at Xat'sull Heritage site. Bus transportation from Williams Lake provided.
• Saturday, June 14 - Conference and Evening Banquet at Williams Lake.

Become a Conference Sponsor more information
Book your Conference Accommodation more information

Reports and Meeting Minutes - Available to members only
The Executive Director's report is where you will find the details of BCCFA board and staff initiatives and activities.

BCCFA Board and Staff Contact List more information

New BCTS Special Account Regulation
The regulation (S. 61 of the Forest Act) announced in government’s February 6, 2014 news release on ‘BC Timber Sales partnerships’ came about as a result of some BCTS pilots, including one with North Island Community Forest Limited Partnership (NICFLP). The new regulation facilitates the ability for BCTS to authorize the expenditure and receipt of moneys related to business agreements designed for BCTS to assist First Nations and communities in selling some of their timber harvesting rights through BCTS’ competitive auction. The regulation doesn’t explain how agreements will be put together, it just outlines the authority BCTS now has to manage the funds related to those business agreements. The specific terms for the agreements will vary from case to case.

As a result of the pilots, the opportunity being offered CFAs with BCTS are made possible through a “Collaborative Volume Agreement” which requires that the licensee request a temporary reduction in Allowable Annual Cut (AAC) from the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNRO) in accordance with the Forest Act. An approval of this request and a signed business agreement permits BCTS to auction CFA timber volume as a Timber Sale Licence (TSL) The volume is then subject to all regular TSL and market-based costs and pricing rules. Tabular rates for CFAs do not apply and the financial terms of the agreement are confidential.  The transferred volume then contributes additional points for market based pricing.

BCTS is offering other options for community forests and First Nations to partner such as Esk'etemc First Nation's ungulate winter range project. BCTS contact is Laurie McCulligh, Business Relations Officer, BC Timber Sales Laurie.McCulligh@gov.bc.ca more information

Mobile Technology Sessions Wrap Up
A big thank you to Tina Matthew with the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council for her effrts in hosting the Kamloops session. And to Andy Muma and his wife Lisa for once again delivering a fantastic workshop. His knowledge of mobile technology can fill a building and his humility can fill another. We are now wrapping up the DTAPP project that funded the training sessions.We are actively seeking more funding to continue with this type of training. Meanwhile, there are a number of resources on the BCCFA website that introduce the potential of Ipads, recommended apps and how to get started with this amazing yet simple technology. more information 

Forest Education Capacity Building
Check out these new forest education proposals that have emerged through the Healthy Forests Healthy Communities conversations. The projects aim to capitalize on the existing BC asset of forest educational organizations and forest related professionals to enhance the forest culture within BC. Bill Bourgeois, the project coordinator, is looking for sponsors that could contribute $5,000 to each of the K-12 and Community Collaboratives. A great opportunity for community forests to bring forest education to your community. more information

Forest Education Resources
Check out these sites for ready to go lesson plans and resources
Learn Forestry more information
Focus on Forests out of Ontario more information
 

Other News

Forestry Innovation Investment (FII)  
The 2014/2015 Wood First Program (WF) Call for Proposals is now open from February 4, 2014 to March 3, 2014. Resources for applications and guidance documents are now available  more information

2014 SISCO Winter Workshop
February 24-26, at Thompson Rivers University campus, Kamloops more information

January Update from Minister Thompson more information 

International Forestry Students Symposium, 2014
The symposium schedule includes a plan to tour in areas near many community forests. Westbank Community Forest wil host the students.. more information

Major Milestone: A New Path to become a Registered Professional Forester (RPF)
The Master of Sustainable Forest Management (MSFM) program at UBC has just been accredited by the Canadian Forestry Accreditation Board for the next 6 years, retroactive to August 2012.  This is a major milestone in the development and implementation of this new course-based Master’s program, and a first for forestry graduate programs in Canada. MSFM program graduates can to apply to become an RPF with member agencies of the Canadian Federation of Professional of Professional Foresters Associations (CFPFA), including the Association of BC Professional Foresters. The program has already been acknowledged with success with the graduates of the class of 2013 all having found employment. more information