NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release 2009FOR0070-000560 November 2, 2009

Ministry of Forests and Range

 

COMMUNITY FOREST SUPPORTS EMPLOYMENT AND RECREATION

 

PORT ALBERNI – A community forest agreement issued to the Alberni Valley Community Forest Corporation will support forestry employment and operations while protecting cultural, recreation, wildlife, and visual qualities around Sproat Lake, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced today.

 

“The agreement creates long-term opportunities for silviculture, harvesting and the value added sector in and around Port Alberni while ensuring careful stewardship of the area,” said Bell. “The community forest will generate the same kind of pride and excitement residents felt and displayed when welcoming the Olympic torch to Port Alberni.”

 

The community forest agreement is for a 25-year term and grants the right to harvest more than 18,000 cubic metres of timber per year from about 6,400 hectares of Crown land near Sproat Lake. The Alberni Valley Community Forest Corporation is owned by the City of Port Alberni.

 

“We are very pleased to now have the opportunity to move ahead with this significant initiative in our community which will help rejuvenate the forest industry in our area as well as provide employment and other economic benefits,” said Port Alberni mayor Ken McRae. “The expertise and professional advice provided by our Community Forest Advisory Committee members has been invaluable throughout this process and I would like to recognize their efforts as we begin this new venture.”

 

“This community forest agreement signals an exciting new chapter for forestry in Port Alberni and we congratulate them on this milestone,” said B.C. Community Forest Association executive director Jennifer Gunter. “The Alberni Valley Community Forest Corporation is already an active member of the Association, and we look forward to working with them as they implement their management vision.”

 

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 view scapes. There are more than 50 community forests operating or in the planning stages in British Columbia.

 

-30-

 

Contact:

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

Mayor Ken McRae City of Port Alberni 250 720-2822

 

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.