NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2009FOR0069-000473 October 13, 2009

Ministry of Forests and Range

 

COMMUNITY FOREST SUPPORTS CARIBOO JOBS AND RECREATION

 

100 MILE HOUSE – A community forest will create employment, enhance recreation and tourism, and help supply the area’s world-renowned log home manufacturers, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell and Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett announced today.

 

“Community forests support jobs in everything from enhanced silviculture to running sawmills and shipping value added products overseas,” said Bell “These agreements enable communities to develop opportunities for traditional and next-generation forest products.”

 

The 25-year agreement will allow 100 Mile Development Corporation to harvest up to 20,000 cubic metres of timber a year. The community forest consists of about 18,000 hectares of Crown land bordered roughly by Highways 97 and 24 in the southwest, and includes the area south of Buffalo and Edwards lakes, to the north of Horse Lake.

 

“The community forest will help existing forestry and recreation businesses as well as inspiring new manufacturers and the expanding tourism sector,” said Barnett. “The Cariboo is a destination for Canadian and international travellers looking for camping, fishing, cycling and horseback adventures, and those activities are all part of the community forest.”

 

The 100 Mile Development Corporation is solely owned by the District of 100 Mile House and has developed and operated tourism, economic development, cultural and agricultural ventures since 1999. It operates the Lodge Conference Centre, Martin Exeter Hall, the Visitor Information Centre and an industrial hemp project in 100 Mile House.

 

“A locally managed community forest will create economic opportunities for small businesses, maintain and produce jobs, and generate revenues for recreation, arts and culture,” said District of 100 Mile House Mayor Mitch Campsall. “In the long term, our community forest will facilitate sustainable growth through local governance that reflects community values and objectives.”

 

            “A community forest has been part of the vision for 100 Mile House for many years,” said B.C. Community Forest Association executive director Jennifer Gunter. “We congratulate them on their success, and look forward to working with them as they work with the community to make the vision a reality.”

 

            “I was pleased to be in 100 Mile House today to celebrate the district’s community forest agreement, and I look forward to discussions with the Canim Lake Indian Band on their proposal for a community forest,” added Bell.

 

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. More than 50 community forests are operating, or in the planning stages, in British Columbia.

 

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Contact:

Cheekwan Ho Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-8482

 

 

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