The Province continues to expand forest opportunities for individuals, groups and First Nations with the offering of a new woodlot licence near Smithers, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced today.

The woodlot (W2105) includes 1,170 hectares of Crown land approximately 12 kilometres east of Smithers and has a proposed allowable annual cut of 3,297 cubic metres. Most of the woodlot is a mix of lodgepole pine, spruce and balsam.

Applications will be accepted until Friday, Oct. 11, 2013 at 2 p.m. at the Skeena Stikine District office at 3333 Tatlow Rd., in Smithers. Further details about the new licence are available from the district office or at: https://www23.for.gov.bc.ca/notices/init.do

Expanding the woodlot program to provide smaller operators with new tenure opportunities is one example of how this government is enabling job creation as part of Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan. Last year, the province also released Our Natural Advantage: Forest Sector Strategy for British Columbia, which outlines a number of priorities to help grow the forestry-sector sustainably, including continuing the expansion of the woodlot program.

Quotes:

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson -

"Woodlot licences support communities across the province by creating jobs at the local level. This woodlot opportunity provides smaller operators in the Smithers area a chance to contribute to the local forest sector while supporting businesses and families right in their own backyard."

Brian McNaughton, general manager, Federation of BC Woodlot Associations -

"The federation is very pleased that the ministry continues to expand the woodlot program. Each new woodlot licence contributes to the local economy by creating direct and indirect jobs, and by providing a source of wood for local milling and manufacturing."

Quick Facts:

• There are about 860 active woodlots in British Columbia.
• Woodlots are replaceable tenures, usually awarded for an initial term of 20 years.
• Each woodlot generates jobs in planning, harvesting, road construction and maintenance, reforestation, silviculture and small-scale timber processing.
• Woodlot licences are small, area-based tenures that combine private land with up to 800 hectares of Crown land on the Coast and 1,200 hectares of Crown land in the Interior.

Learn More:

The BC Jobs Plan: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/

Forest Sector Strategy for B.C.: https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/forestsectorstrategy/

Media Contact:

Brennan Clarke
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261