Office of the Premier
BURNS LAKE - A community forest agreement will diversify the local economy and create more business for the Babine Lake area, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced today at a signing ceremony with the Village of Granisle and the Lake Babine Nation.
The community forest agreement is for a 25-year term and grants the right to harvest up to 6,088 cubic metres of timber per year from 6,594 hectares surrounding Granisle. It also gives the Babine Lake Community Forest Society the opportunity to manage and profit from other forest resources such as botanical products.
The society is a partnership between the Village of Granisle and the Lake Babine Nation. The society plans to focus its community forest licence on sustainable forest management and establishing an innovation centre for natural resources in Granisle.
The innovation centre will explore training and production opportunities using wood from the Babine Lake community forest for manufacturing goods with high aesthetic value and decorative appeal. Examples of potential products include cabinet doors, fencing panels, and display boards for trophy mounts and plaques.
Quotes:
Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Steve Thomson -
"The history of the Granisle area is rich in mining and recreation tourism. This community forest agreement will expand and strengthen their economic foundation by enabling them to also pursue new business opportunities in the forestry sector."
Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad -
"Community forests are a popular form of tenure since they directly reflect the values of the communities operating them. This agreement will be managed to ensure the Babine Lake Community Forest is representative of the mutual values held by the people of the Lake Babine Nation and the Granisle municipality."
Mayor Frederick Clarke, Village of Granisle -
"There are all kinds of new product lines just waiting to be discovered in the world of value-added wood manufacturing. We plan to find and develop the most innovative ones with the support of our community forest and our partners from the Lake Babine Nation. This will help increase business activity and create more jobs for Granisle."
Chief Wilf Adam, Lake Babine Nation -
"The Lake Babine Nation has a very good relationship with the Village of Granisle and will continue to build on it with this community forest agreement. We welcome this agreement because we want to ensure sustainability and because the cooperation will benefit all people in the Lake Babine area."
Quick Facts:
* Community forest agreements are a form of tenure that enable communities to more fully participate in the stewardship of local Crown forest resources.
* They are area-based, and give communities exclusive rights to harvest timber, as well as the opportunity to manage other forest values such as botanical products, recreation, wildlife, water and scenic viewscapes.
* More than 50 community forests are operating or in the planning stages in British Columbia.
Learn More:
About community forest agreements:
http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hth/timber-tenures/community/index.htm
About the British Columbia Community Forest Association:
Media Contact:
Cheekwan Ho
Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250-356-5261
Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect
