In this report you will find examples of how community forests are actively managing for old growth on the land around their communities. link to the report
Community forests bring a unique perspective to the forest sector, a perspective informed by long-term stewardship of the land around Indigenous and rural communities. Community forestry in BC grew out of a call from communities to do something different in the provincial forest close to their homes. In the late 90’s, rural and Indigenous communities wanted to have more local say in management of local forests. They asserted that the local forests were more than just a source of timber and they wanted to be empowered to determine how their values were managed on the land.
Community forest managers have adopted a stewardship approach to management of their tenures and recognize that forests are dynamic. They have learned that forests must be cared for and that if we want old forests, then the forest must be tended for those values. Community forests are actively managing for old growth, and biodiversity, while working to create more resilient ecosystems in the face of climate change. They are incorporating wildfire risk and community safety, forest health, watershed protection and cultural values as they make their plans for management of their tenures. They are putting an emphasis on active management of a suite of values, including jobs, to achieve balance on the land.
BCCFA board and staff gathered in Victoria in June for a series of meetings with staff from Ministry of Forests, BC Wildfire Service, Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and the Ministry of Land and Water Resource Stewardship (photo top left). A special trip was made to the Legislature for a meeting with Minister Josie Osborne, Land and Water Resource Stewardship (photo top right).
BCCFA directors and staff met virtually with Minister Conroy on June 21st. Topics included tabular stumpage rates and legislative & regulatory changes concerning wildfire management and the Wildland Urban Interface. Each director highlighted a key achievement of their community forest, including Indigenous partnerships, proactive wildfire management and investments in education and recreation.
NewFESBC Funding Available
FESBC is accepting applications for projects that will assist the Province of BC to reduce wildfire risk and increase community resilience to wildfire. Information on the program is available at FESBC 2022-2023 Funding Program. All community forests interested in new funding for wildfire risk reduction projects are encouraged to apply.
A virtual information session on the application process was held on June 28th. If you were unable to attend, email Aleece Laird at communications@fesbc.ca for a recording of the information session.
October 19, Wednesday - field trip & evening reception
October 20, Thursday – conference sessions plus annual banquet and awards night
October 21, Friday – BCCFA AGM & conference sessions. Wrap up at noon
We would like to welcome Natasha Silva, a student in the Masters of International Forestry program at UBC. Natasha will assist in the coordination of our 20th anniversary celebration that will take place at the Nakusp conference in October. Over the coming weeks, Natasha will be contacting community forest managers to explain about our anniversary project and to let them know how they can get involved.
Five baby bous are thriving at the maternity pen in Nakusp
In these times of a lot of bad news, it is great to hear a good news story. Though their habitat was diminished by logging practices over the past 75 or so years, there are efforts to support a healthy future of caribou herds today. Last March, seven adult females and one yearling female caribou from three locations northeast of Nakusp were captured, with the hope that baby caribou would be born and contribute to the dwindling numbers of caribou in the area. The maternity pen is a safe environment for female caribou to bear and raise their calves, away from predators. The Arrow Lakes Caribou Society (ALCS) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Nakusp, supported by the Nakusp and Area Community Forest, organized to provide a local voice in land use decision making regarding caribou recovery efforts of the Nakusp caribou herd of the Central Selkirk subpopulation. Check out the website. Follow them on Instagram @arrow_lakes_caribou and on Facebook at Arrow Lakes Caribou Society
Summer Students on Community Forests
A partnership between BCCFA and the UBC and funded through an anonymous donor, provides an opportunity for 4 Faculty of Forestry students to work with 2 community forests over the summer. This year students are working in the Lower North Thompson (Barrier) and the Spel̓kúmtn (Pemberton and Lil'wat Nation) Community Forests.
Lower North Thompson
UBC students pictured above are Franklin Landry (left) and Mathew Appelbaum (right). A local student Rebecca Quiding (centre), a 3rd year TRU student has joined the crew this summer. They have been brushing and moving into a spacing trial, tree planting and quality assurance, some preharvest data collection, helping with some silv surveys, s100, first aid, and a hatchery field trip.
Sunshine Coast Community Forest hosts their first summer student
Though not funded through the BCCFA program, Sunshine Coast has used their own funds to hire thier first ever summer student. Michelle Wells is supporting SCCF’s community engagement activities like the Salmon Release Festival, butterfly garden at Cascade Greens park, and providing support with the Sunshine Coast Wildlife Project’s habitat monitoring and restoration work. read more
#ForestryConnect - A Virtual Platform The Central HUB for Indigenous Skills Development + Opportunities Matching in the BC Forest Sector
The First Nations Forestry Council is developing a new online forestry career matching tool, part of the implementation of the BC First Nations Workforce Strategy. The online tool helps students and community members find jobs, education and training opportunities within the sector. The tool, supported by the StrongerBC Economic Plan, it is expected to launch by March 2023. read the Province's news release
Old Growth Forests - What is the path forward?
In May, the UBC Faculty of Forestry hosted a Q&A session to answer the audience-driven questions that were provided during their April 'Old Growth Forests - What is the path forward?' webinar with panelists Robert Dennis, Chief Counsellor Huu-ay-aht First Nation, Cam Brown, RPF and Rachel Holt, Veridian Ecological Consulting. Recordings of the informative sessions are available here. April 7, 2022 - Old Growth Forests - What is the path forward? May 17, 2022 - Old Growth Forests - Q&A
Online Micro-Certificate: Forest Carbon Management
The new UBC Forest Carbon Management (FCM) Micro-Certificate is a flexible 8-week online program that provides natural resource managers with an understanding of forest carbon accounting, related data sources and analysis, and the architecture of forest carbon projects and associated markets. read more
UBC Grad Students to Study Climate Change in Mission Municipal Forest
L: Dr. Robert Kozak, Dean of UBC Forestry and R: Chris Gruenwald, Director of Forestry celebrate the formalization of a new research partnership read more
Funding sources from FireSmart BC
Listed here are programs that may provide funding opportunities to communities and First Nations through planning, education and implementation of wildfire threat reduction activities. read more
The Ember - A Canada Wildfire Bulletin - Link to the June edition
Includes information on the following webinar: Lightning Fire Occurrence Prediction - Modelling for Operational Use June 8. Mike Wotton, Canadian Forest Service, will teach you about lightning fire ignition and the important processes that determine the day-to-day variation of this important source of summertime fire activity in Canada. This presentation is for both academic and operational audiences in Canada's wildfire community.
National Forest Week - Get your free promotional materials today
Each year, the Canadian Institute of Forestry / Institut of forestier du Canada (CIF-IFC) leads and coordinates a national distribution effort in celebration of National Forest Week (NFW). NFW is celebrated across Canada by many individuals and diverse organizations from coast to coast. This year, NFW takes place from September 18-24, 2022. The theme for NFW 2022 is “Canada's Forests: Solutions for a Changing Climate”. The CIF-IFC will once again be distributing promotional materials prior to NFW celebrations, including posters and postcards, FREE of charge! The bilingual poster is available in a large size (24"x31.5") or medium size (11"x17"), and the promotional postcard is available in either English or French. If you would like to receive a shipment with either or both of these items, Please place your order by completing and submitting an online order form. The deadline to order promotional materials is June 30, 2022.
Welcome to the New President and CEO of the BC Council of Forest Industries, Linda Coadyread more
Woodlot Communicator - Spring 2022 - read more Woodlot Conference and AGM October 14 - 16, Abbotsford
BCCFA Website Members Only Section The members only section can be found at this link Contact smulkey@bccfa.ca for the password. The section is populated with a full range of governance policy templates including: Community Forest Director Accountability Agreement, Distribution of Community Forest Profit policy guidance and more.
