Forests
The Village of Midway and City of Greenwood are the newest recipients of a community forest agreement, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced today.
He made the announcement after meeting with both local governments at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities annual convention.
The West Boundary community forest agreement will have an allowable annual cut of 23,000 cubic metres per year and an initial term of 25 years. The agreement area covers about 17,760 hectares around the City of Greenwood and Village of Midway in the Boundary region.
West Boundary Community Forest Inc. is jointly owned by the Village of Midway and City of Greenwood. In addition to preserving local recreation trails, the community forest will also be used to train local high school students in forestry.
Community forest agreements are long-term, area-based tenures designed to encourage community involvement in, and management of, local forests. A community forest is managed by a local government, community group or First Nation for the benefit of the entire community.
Quotes:
Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson -
“Community forest agreements are one way this government is diversifying the forest economy for the benefit of rural communities.”
Mayor Nipper Kettle, City of Greenwood -
“I am very pleased the City of Greenwood is partnering with our neighbour Midway in this community forest venture. This will further entrench our relationship as friends and neighbours and add to our economy, providing jobs and educational opportunities in the forest sector.”
Mayor Randy Kappes, Village of Midway -
“I’m looking forward to the opportunities that the new community forest will provide to our community. We will have a much larger role to play within our area’s major industry, forestry. One way we intend to influence forestry is by partnering with the local high school and provide training opportunities in forestry for future generations.”
BC Community Forest Association president Don Brown -
“We are so pleased to hear of the community forest agreement award to the City of Greenwood and the Village of Midway. The new West Boundary Community Forest is a collaborative effort that has grown out of a desire for long-term economic development and employment opportunities, increased self-reliance, and the kind of local-level decision making that leads to sustainable forest management. We look forward to working with them as they move ahead into implementation of their vision.”
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 over 50 community forest agreements with a total allowable annual cut of 1.3 million cubic metres of timber a year.
Learn More:
For a photo of the announcement visit: https://flic.kr/p/poBrLz
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/
Media Contacts:
Media Relations
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261
