The Province is accepting bids on a new woodlot near Teepee Creek 28 kilometres north of Tumbler Ridge, in a move that will create new job opportunities across the Peace River region, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced today.

Woodlot Licence W1947 covers just over 998 hectares of Crown land, with an initial allowable annual cut of 1,368 cubic metres.

Deadline for submissions is April 30, 2014. Applications and details are available online; see Notice ID 8418 at: http://www23.for.gov.bc.ca/notices/init.do

This is the third new woodlot licence the Province has made available in the Peace River region this year. In February, the Province announced it was accepting bids on the 1,118-hectare woodlot 95 kilometres northwest of Dawson Creek, and in March, B.C. advertised for bids on a woodlot near Wonowon, 83 kilometres northwest of Fort St. John.

Woodlots 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. The province’s 860 woodlots generate local jobs in planning, harvesting, road construction and maintenance, reforestation, silviculture and small-scale timber processing.

Quotes:

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

“Government is actively increasing the number of woodlots in support of B.C.’s forest sector strategy. Woodlots help create economic activity and employment opportunities in rural areas, like the Peace River region.”

Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier -

"This additional woodlot in the South Peace will help protect jobs, and give local communities a greater say in how local forest resources are managed. A strong forestry sector benefits our region to diversify our economy and create opportunities in all natural resource sectors.”

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

"The ongoing expansion of the province's woodlot licensees program is having a positive impact across the province. Woodlot owners help support a healthy and diverse forest industry that makes significant contributions to local communities and provides a sustainable supply of forest products.”

Learn More:

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

Woodlot licences: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hth/timber-tenures/woodlots/index.htm

Federation of B.C. Woodlot Associations: http://www.woodlot.bc.ca

Media Contacts:

Greig Bethel
Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261