 |
|
|
CRESTON – Nelson-Creston MLA Blair Suffredine joined Forests Minister Michael de Jong in inviting the community of Creston to apply for a probationary community forest agreement, bringing economic benefits and control of local forest resources to the region.
“We are acting on our commitment to expand the community’s role in managing its area resources,” said Suffredine. “A community forest will allow Creston to make decisions about local timber resources and other values, including recreation and tourism, for the benefit of the community.”
Through the Creston Valley Forest Corporation (CVFC), Creston currently holds a non-replaceable forest licence allowing an annual harvest of 15,000 cubic metres. Once the CVFC and Ministry of Forests finalize details of the probationary community forest agreement, the non-replaceable forest licence will be surrendered and replaced by the new probationary community forest agreement.
“Through the Forestry Revitalization Plan, this government committed to providing more forestry opportunities for communities,” said de Jong. “With a community forest agreement, Creston will be able to shape its future to support the goals of the community, while creating jobs and providing timber for small-scale manufacturers and local processing facilities.”
Community forest agreements are a form of tenure through which the Province transfers responsibility for forest management to communities that wish to more fully participate in forestry. A community tenures regulation put in place last month allows for the conversion of the other tenures, such as tree farm licences or forest licences, to community forest agreements. A probationary community forest agreement carries a five-year term, with provision for extension or conversion into a long-term agreement.
“We have asked government for a form of tenure that will give our community control over its forest resource and allow us to invest in the future, and this government has listened,” said CVFC chair Albert Brunham. “With this invitation, we can work with government to create a community forest plan that will continue to reap economic benefits and reflect our values as a community.” The CVFC is governed by a board of directors, with representatives from the Town of Creston, Regional District of Central Kootenay, Creston Area Economic Development Commission, Lower Kootenay Indian Band and East Kootenay Environmental Society.
For more information on this and other Ministry initiatives visit: http://www.gov.bc.ca/for/ online.
-30-
| ||||||||||||
