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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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KAMLOOPS – Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger joined Forests Minister Michael de Jong in inviting the communities of Clearwater and Barriere to apply for community forest agreements, bringing new economic opportunities to the region and allowing the people of the North Thompson Valley to close the chapter on the fires of last summer.
“Following the economic challenges including the devastating fire season of 2003, the North Thompson Valley has looked to the future and is now building locally-controlled means of resource management,” said Krueger. “With these opportunities now available to the local community forest groups, I am confident the economic security of the region will be assured. I wish to thank the members of the Economic Development Advisory Commission, the two community forest organizations, and all community members who have worked to bring us to this memorable day.”
“The people of Barriere can now begin the process of controlling our local forests for our own benefit,” said Al Bush, chair of the Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society. “We intend to reinvest profits from this venture into community priorities and look forward to the business succeeding as we partner with industry and the North Thompson Indian Band.”
“The North Thompson Indian Band has been working with both communities to build solid business opportunities,” said Chief Nathan Matthew. “Our people will play a substantial role in working with this community-based group in harvesting, transporting, and processing the wood.”
The Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society and the Wells Gray Community Forest Corporation have been invited to apply for community forest agreements for areas that will each approximate 20,000 cubic metres of timber annually in the Kamloops timber supply area. The volume and exact area will be decided after the provincewide timber reallocation process is completed later next year.
“We are very pleased to be offered this allocation of timber on behalf of Wells Gray Country,” said Derek Morris, co-chair of the Wells Gray Community Forests Corporation. “Government has responded to the challenges faced by the communities in the North Thompson. This volume will provide a firm basis to maintain and grow the local manufacturing base yet also, provide the opportunity to diversify the forest sector in the communities of the North Thompson.”
Community forest agreements are a mechanism by which the Province transfers decision-making to communities that wish to more fully participate in their local forest resource stewardship. 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, at which time they may be extended for another five years or replaced with a long-term agreement of 25 to 99 years. Since July 2004, government has provided community forest opportunities for 12 communities across B.C.
For more information on this community forest agreement and other ministry initiatives visit: http://www.gov.bc.ca/for/ online.
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