November 2015 Newsletter
Welcome to our two new members
The community forest network is growing! The Chinook Community Forest is the largest in the province and the only one to have a partnership between six First Nations - Burns Lake Band, Lake Babine Nation, Cheslatta Carrier Nation, Wet'suwet'en First Nation, Skin Tyee Nation and Nee Tahi Buhn First Nation and two local governments - Village of Burns Lake and the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (Area B & E). Their application has been approved and they are waiting for approval of their FSP. Our other new member is the Town of Gibsons, located on the Sunshine Coast, and they are seeking an invitation for a community forest.
2015 Indicators Survey - Thanks for your participation
26 surveys have been received from CFAs that have been operating for a minimum of a full fiscal year, with a few more promised. 8 other members have also completed the members section of the survey. This is over two times the sample size of the 2014 Survey. Nicely done everyone! Preliminary results will be available in December, with the final report released in the new year.
How can UBC Forestry help my community forest? read more
Summer Student Program Deadline is December 4th
Expressions of Interest are now invited for four undergraduate internships to be placed at two community forests in the summer of 2016. Funding has been confirmed for 3 years which will allow for a longer notice of the opportunity to participate in the program. Meanwhile the deadline for this year is December 4th so that communities will have a broader selection of students to choose from. BCCFA members interested in participating in the program are asked to provide a proposal to Tony Loring Co-op Coordinator at UBC Faculty of Forestry.
read more
2016 BCCFA Conference and AGM - May 26-28 Mark the Dates
The Cowichan Lake Community Forest Cooperative and Susan have been working to line up accommodation and venue details along with other logistics for the 2016 conference. The official conference host will be the Qaly?it Community Forest, a new partnership between the Cooperative and the Pacheedaht First Nation. The conference dates have been confirmed for May 26-28. A gold level sponsorship donation ($5000) has already been received by the BCCFA Victoria office from the Cooperative. The donation will ensure funds to secure guest speakers. Online registration will be available in March.
Local accommodations are in short supply so Book your accommodation NOW ! Accommodation Guide
Reports and Meeting Minutes - available to members only
2015 Draft BCCFA AGM Minutes
October Executive Director's Report
November Executive Director's Report
September BCCFA Board Minutes
September Joint Working Group Minutes
October Joint Working Group - no October meeting. Face-to-face meeting Nov.24-25 in Kamloops
Mountain Biking Trails and Community Forests
Hans Granander from Bella Coola asked for some resources on the development of mountain biking on the Bella Coola Community Forest. BCCFA staff compiled a list of resources that includes information from all over BC. If your community forest has developed policy or if you have access to additional resources please contact Susan.
read more
Small Employer Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Training Course - A Testimonial
Read this testimonial about why even seasoned forest industry workers should take this course.
read more
National Forestry Survey - Please Participate when contacted!
The survey is being conducted by the Universities of Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta, looking at participation and decision-making in forest advisory committees, community forest boards, and model forests.
read more
Other News
October Update from Minister Thomson read more
The Competitiveness and Innovation Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has published the Major Primary Timber Processing Facilities in British Columbia Report for 2014.
read more The List of Mills Appendix is available as an Excel spreadsheet
read more
The Final Wood Waste 2 Rural Heat NEWS
Unable to find further funding, the WW2RH project has come to a close. The website will stay up for a limited time. Thank you David Dubois for your leadership on this issue and for your enthusiasm and vast knowledge.
read more
Western Silvicultural Contractors’ Association
2016 Annual Conference & Tradeshow
Wednesday, February 3 to Friday, February 6, 2016
Coast Capri Hotel, Kelowna
read more
WSCA Rumour Mill RoundUpdate
October 30, 2015
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November 13, 2015
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International Model Forest
River Mirna Basin Model Forest, Croatia develops Sustainable Truffle Strategy
read more
Restoring the landscape to improve livelihoods in the Chorotega Model Forest, Costa Rica
read more
The Working Forest Newspaper
The national publication is planning to focus the next issue of their newspaper on success stories related to forest education. Do you have a good story to tell?
read more
