NEW COMMUNITY FOREST TO BENEFIT MACKENZIE

MACKENZIE – A new community forest will provide economic benefits to the Mackenzie region, Prince George North MLA Pat Bell announced today on behalf of Forests Minister Michael de Jong.

“In this government’s Forest Revitalization Plan, we promised more community involvement,” said Bell. “This new community forest will allow the District of Mackenzie and the McLeod Lake Indian Band to manage a local forest. I am delighted to be announcing this deal because of the partnership approach the two communities are taking – when we work together we can accomplish so much more.”

The District of Mackenzie in partnership with the McLeod Lake Indian Band will be invited to apply for a probationary community forest agreement, providing up to 30,000 cubic metres of timber annually from the Mackenzie timber supply area.

“I appreciate government’s leadership to put our community’s interests so close to the top of the forestry agenda”, said Mayor Tom Briggs, District of Mackenzie. “This opportunity will mean a made-in-the-north solution to supporting our social and economic needs.”

“As our people and our Band’s economy continue to grow, involvement in forestry is meaningful and beneficial,” said Chief Harley Chingee of the McLeod Lake Indian Band. “This community forest opportunity will create additional employment for band members and residents of the Mackenzie area.”

The timber volume will be available once the provincewide timber reallocation process is complete. Under the Forestry Revitalization Plan, government committed to reallocate timber to communities, woodlot operators and First Nations to diversify the forest economy. Before the tenure can be awarded the Ministry of Forests must consult with potentially affected First Nations and the district must submit a detailed application to the local forest district manager.

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 agreement-holders exclusive stewardship of an area of forest land over the term of the agreement. The probationary agreements are initially 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 August 2004, government has provided community forest opportunities for 24 communities across the Province.

For more information on this community forest agreement opportunity and other ministry programs visit: http://www.gov.bc.ca/for/

-30-

1 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Don McDonald Communications Director Ministry of Forests 250 387-8486

Visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca for online information and services.