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ALEXIS CREEK – A joint community forest agreement offered to the Tsi Del Del (Alexis Creek First Nation) and the Tatla Resource Association will generate ongoing employment and forestry-related benefits, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced today.
“Community forest agreements encourage operations that support local jobs and businesses, strive for timber and silviculture enhancements, and recognize all forest values,” said Bell. “The partnership between the Tsi Del Del and the Tatla Resource Association is of great benefit to the Chilcotin, and is another example of forestry succeeding when people work together.”
The community forest agreement grants the right
to harvest up to 40,000 cubic metres of timber per year on about
115,000 hectares of public forest lands in the Williams Lake timber supply
area.
“The community
forest will help expand our forestry business, ensure the sustainable
management of the land base, and continue to build our partnership with the
Tatla Resource Association,” said Tsi Del Del Chief Ervin Charleyboy. “This
agreement is our latest milestone, and will allow us to provide ongoing
forestry employment for Tsi Del Del and surrounding communities, as we have
done for the last 18 years.”
“This community forest is the latest result of the strong relationship between the Tsi Del Del and the community of Tatla Lake,” said David King, president of the Tatla Resource Association. “Our shared forestry vision will continue to support environmental and economic stability for the area and its residents.”
Tsi Del Del has provided stable employment for forest workers since 1992, through their operation of Tsi Del Del Enterprises, a forest products company they jointly own with Tolko Industries Ltd.
Community forest agreements are a form of legal
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
resources such as botanical products, recreation, wildlife, water and scenic
viewscapes. There are more than 50 community forests operating or in the
planning stages in British Columbia.
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Contact: |
Jennifer McLarty Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-4592 David
King President Tatla
Resource Association 250
476-1295 |
Chief
Ervin Charleyboy Tsi Del
Del 250
481-3335 |
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