Our hearts are heavy with the tragic events happening in the province.
To all of the many communities, families, and individuals affected by flooding and mudslides, we hope for your safety and comfort. Thank you to all first responders, emergency staff, highway and equipment workers, heli pilots, volunteers and everyone working tirelessly to keep everyone safe,
including the animals.
Modernizing Forest Policy Engagement Online portal for forest sector participants - deadline Dec. 10th
The provincial government is inviting forest sector participants to contribute their perspectives on specific policy topics in the Intentions Paper (link to Modernizing Forest Policy paper). The deadline is December 10th. The BCCFA is calling on our membership to submit comments. Important topics for community forests include FRPA reforms, old growth harvesting deferrals, and most notably, stumpage. Pricing policy is the number one priority for our members. The province’s intention to harmonize the rate structures of First Nations woodlands licences, community forest agreements and woodlot licences requires careful consideration and input from CFA holders.
Paramount to the continued success of the community forest program is the recognition of the unique responsibilities and mandate given to community forest agreement holders by government, and the policies that are needed to support them. These policies include the necessity of a pricing system that acknowledges the unique role of CFAs and reflects the full costs of operating them. The BCCFA is committed to working with government on solutions that work for all community-based tenures, while ensuring that our members continue to be able to meet the goals of their communities and of the community forest program. Local governments, with support from UBCM, have their own online portal to submit ideas on the policy intentions. Local governments with an interest in community forestry are encouraged to make a submission.
Please contact Jennifer Gunter (jgunter@bccfa.ca) for background information on the policy intentions and the BCCFA’s work on pricing.
Bill 28 and 23 Legislation Approved
The legislature moved quickly on 2 key parts of the province’s Modernizing Forest Policy vision last week. Both Bill 28 and Bill 23 received royal ascent.
Bill 28, Forest Amendment Act, 2021containing amendments to the Forest Act gives government tools to take volume from a volume or area-based tenure – what is being called a taking – for redistribution. It provides direction on compensation for the taking and has new requirements for forest inventories that will be used to inform compensation. More information on Bill 28
The new special-purpose area (SPA) designation gives a tool for reallocation to First Nations for a range of tenure and ownership opportunities, new and expanded community forest agreements, more BC Timber Sales areas, access, and non-timber production.
Government hasn’t made any statements on how they will specifically use these new powers, but the legislation will support reconciliation and their intention to double the current volume held by First Nations. It also supports the intention to expand opportunities to communities and BC Timber Sales. Details will be coming through new regulations and implementation will be connected to a budget for compensation.
We understand that it is typical when government is developing a bill that deals with compensation that there is not a period of public or sectoral consultation.
Bill 23, Forests Statutes Amendment Act, 2021is a significant component of the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) Improvement Initiative, which in contrast, has been a focus of engagement since 2018. Building on Bill 21 – 2019 Forest and Range Practices Amendment Act (which introduced Forest Operations Maps (FOMs)), the Bill 23 amendments to FRPA include the Forest Landscape Plans and a new planning regime that will replace Forest Stewardship Plans. The BCCFA has provided input on all phases of the FPRA Improvement Initiative and will continue with monthly meetings with the FLNRORD team leading the work.
New Inventory Requirements in Bill 28
Bill 28 will require the holder of an area-based tenure to prepare and maintain a complete and accurate inventory of:
Timber
Soil & terrain
Water resources
Fish and wildlife
Ecosystems
Recreation resources
Visual resources
The inventory is to be made available to the chief forester by Jan. 1 2026. We will be looking for more information on technical standards that will be required and will be hoping for “standards that can stand the test of time” (Gord Chipman Esk’etemc CF). See pages 16-19 in the Bill 28 Legislation. Please contact Jennifer and let her know if you already have this inventory information or if the requirement will create a significant burden.
Protecting a Village and Creating Bioenergy
The Clinton Community Forest Approach
An FESBC supported project
“Usable and viable timber can still be salvaged after wildfire—but only for so long afterwards,” said Steve Law, RPF, General Manager, CCF. “Normally, we’d selectively log Douglas Fir and have about 50 per cent remaining. After a large fire, most of the work involves replanting without offsetting the cost through selling the logs. Without funding from FESBC, this work would not have been economical, and the fibre likely would have been burned. The financial support allowed us to recover the fibre instead.” Press Release
Logging Cost Survey - Reminder to Coastal Members
All CFAs on the Coast are required to complete the province’s cost survey. This is a licensee obligation. The request is not linked to tab rates. However, there is a benefit to the province collecting as comprehensive and accurate data as possible to account for the incremental costs born by smaller operators. MPS is based on this data, so it is important to have the added costs of small volumes recognized in the Appraisal system. A virtual information session was held for BCCFA members earlier this month. Please contact Jennifer for the ministry’s presentation. Coastal community forests are encouraged to report additional CFA costs, including in-kind, related to their Management Plan requirements and the 8 goals of the Community Forest Program. Coastal CFAs working to complete the survey can send questions to FLNR Coast Logging Cost Survey FORCLCS@Victoria1.gov.bc.ca
UBC Faculty of Forestry 2022 - Community Forest Summer Student Program
We are pleased to announce the opportunity to host Community Forest Summer Students, offered to operating community forests by the UBC Faculty of Forestry through a gift from an anonymous donor. The UBC Faculty of Forestry has confirmed funding for four undergraduate students to be placed at two community forests for the summer months in 2022. The purpose of the gift is to support employment opportunities for undergraduate students in the Faculty of Forestry, and to support community forestry. If you are interested in hosting 2 students for Summer 2022, submit your Expression of Interest to Nazlyn and Susan by December 3, 2021. read the criteria for a submission For more information contact Nazlyn at nazlyn.pirani@ubc.ca
Provincial Drought Working Group
Request for drought mortality information from the 2021 heat dome and summer drought
In early 2021 the province’s Chief Forester asked for a working group to be created to look into silviculture issues related to climate change and drought. One of the first tasks is to gather information related to the 2021 heat dome and drought damage for newly planted stands and other stands assessed for survival. Deadline January 31st 2022Read moreExcel file for data entry
Announcing the Kootenay BoundarySmall Forest Tenure Capacity Building project
A new initiative to build capacity and diversify opportunities for small tenures has been launched in the Kootenay Boundary area. Potential opportunities that emerge from the research will be supported to move forward to fruition. This support could take the form of connections to potential business partners, business case preparation, product expertise, financing, training, and more. A key part of the work is building a network of participants and resources that can facilitate ongoing collaboration, and lead to greater revenue and jobs for local communities. read more Check out the project graphic
2022 ABCFP Virtual Forestry Conference & AGM
February 2, 2022 - February 4, 2022 read more
WFCA Virtual Annual Conference, Expo and Annual General Meeting
Wednesday, February 9th - Friday, February 12, 2022 read more
2022 CoFI Convention
April 27-29, 2022 at the JW Marriot Parq Vancouver Hotel and Conference Centre in Vancouver Book your hotel now
Truck Loggers Convention January 12-14, 2022 Westin Bayshore, Vancouver read more
