 |
| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
|
| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
|
BELLA COOLA – Today North Coast MLA Bill Belsey and Minister of State for Forestry Operations Roger Harris extended an invitation to the Bella Coola Nuxalk Resource Society to apply for a community forest agreement, bringing economic benefits and control of local forest resources to the central coast. “This is a community that has experienced a number of challenges and has worked together to create a new opportunity through today’s community forest invitation,” said Belsey. “This is about keeping forestry jobs in the community and providing a secure fibre supply for local value-added businesses.”
The Bella Coola Nuxalk Resource Society has been invited to apply for a probationary community forest licence, providing 30,000 cubic metres of timber annually from the mid-coast timber supply area, primarily from the South Bentinck Arm and the Bella Coola Valley.
“Today’s invitation clearly demonstrates how the Forestry Revitalization Plan can work for our communities,” said Harris. “Through timber reallocation we are able to provide the tools necessary for Bella Coola to make decisions about its forest resources to meet the economic, social and environmental needs of the community.”
“This community forest invitation is a significant step forward for our community,” said Hans Granander, executive director of the Bella Coola Nuxalk Resource Society. “Thanks to timber reallocation, we will be able to support new local businesses, such as log home building, value-added cedar and alder products, and other niche markets.”
“We are very supportive of this community forest opportunity for Bella Coola because we believe this is an important step in regaining access to resources in our ancestral territory,” said Nuxalk First Nation Chief Anfinn Siwallace. “Through control of our forest management, we will be able to help our whole community thrive.”
The Bella Coola Nuxalk Resource Society has a broad base of community support, with members from the Central Coast regional district and local businesses.
Community forest agreements are a mechanism by which the Province transfers decision making to communities that wish to more fully participate in the stewardship of their local forest resources. Community forest tenures are area-based, giving the holders exclusive stewardship of an area of forest land over the term of the agreement. The probationary agreements are for five years, after which they may be extended for another five years or replaced with a long-term agreement of 25 to 99 years. Since July, government has provided community forest opportunities for nine communities across the province.
For more information on this community forest agreement and other ministry initiatives visit: http://www.gov.bc.ca/for/ online.
-30-
| ||||||||||||
