Community Forest Tenure
The Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) and Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN) are in the early stages of the development of a Community Forest Agreement (CFA), that will pave the way for a Community Forest Tenure for Fort Nelson.View a slideshow [PDF - 2.2 MB] of Community Forestry in British Columbia.
A CFA has been explored in the past, and has been discussed extensively at Fort Nelson's Forestry Roundtable throughout the year. NRRM Regional Council approved a budget for 2009 to proceed with the development of a plan.
There are currently 52 Communities in the Community Forest Program from Mackenzie/Mcleod Lake to Powell River on Vancouver Island, to Creston in the south. The face of these individual programs varies as much as the communities themselves - Community Forest Tenures have been used to spur local community economic development, to protect watersheds, and to enhance recreational opportunities.
The NRRM and FNFN both see much potential in a Community
Forest Tenure, and see the current economic realities to be an opportunity to
sow the seeds of future prosperity. By ensuring local control,
participation, and decision making over a portion of our Forest Industry, our
Community will reap the benefits of recreation, conservation, profit, and/or
education - depending on how the Community wishes to see the CFA designed.
The NRRM has discussed the process extensively with the BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA), the Northern Interior Forest Region of the Ministry of Forests and Range, the local District Office of the Ministry of Forests and Range, and now has a Registered Professional Forester on staff to assist with the process.
On Thursday, January 21st 2010, the first public
information forum outlining what a Community Forest Agreement is, how it is
beneficial, and how it will impact residents of Fort Nelson and Fort Nelson
First Nation was held at Northern Lights College. Susan Mulkey, from the British Columbia Community Forest
Association addressed the audience and drew from her extensive background in
Community Forests - much in BC but also experiences from around the world. You can borrow the DVD from the Community Development and Planning Department - contact Doug Tofte if you wish to do so.
Susan also met with First Nation (both Prophet River and Fort Nelson First Nations), Municipal, and Provincial representatives to ensure all parties are clear on what Community Forests are and can be, so Fort Nelson can move forward on this exciting initiative together, and come out of the Forestry downturn stronger than ever in the future.
