The Province is enhancing economic opportunities and forest stewardship in the south Cariboo by signing a community forest agreement with the Village of Clinton, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced today. 

The new community forest covers 62,000 hectares and will have an allowable annual cut of up to 20,000 cubic metres. The community forest is in the 100 Mile House Timber Supply Area and the agreement has an initial term of 25 years.

A community forest is a forestry operation managed by a local government, community group or First Nation for the benefit of the entire community. Community forest agreements are long-term, area-based tenures designed to encourage community involvement in, and management of, local forests.

Quotes:

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

“Community forests are great way to make more timber available, while diversifying B.C.'s forest sector and create local employment opportunities.” 

Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett -

“Community forests provide local jobs and give rural communities a stronger, more diverse economic base. This new community forest agreement means sustainable employment for people in Clinton and creates long-term opportunities for collaboration between the Village of Clinton and local First Nations.”

Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart -

“This new community forest agreement is a great step for the Villager of Clinton and for the region. It will have an important impact on the local economy and on community’s ability to manage its own forest resource.”

Clinton Mayor Jim Rivett -

“Getting a community forest is really important to the area. Harvesting from a community forest can support locally determined objectives and interests such as infrastructure upgrades, volunteer group projects and grants to community groups."

Community Forest Association president Don Brown -

“We congratulate Clinton on their Community Forest Agreement award. Clinton has been a member of the BC Community Forest Association since they first received the invitation to apply, and we look forward to working with them as they implement their plans to maximize the social, environmental, cultural and economic benefits that these tenures provide.”

Quick Facts:

• “Our Natural Advantage: A Forest Sector Strategy for British Columbia” identifies community forests as a key element in supporting prosperous rural forest economies.
• Since 2004, government has signed 50 community forest agreements with a total allowable annual cut of 1.3 million cubic metres of timber a year.

Learn More:

Our Natural Advantage: Forest Sector Strategy for British Columbia: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/mof/forestsectorstrategy/Forest_Strategy_WEB.PDF

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

British Columbia Community Forests Association: http://www.bccfa.ca/

Media Contacts:

Grieg Bethel
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261