January 2022 Newsletter

Old Growth Deferrals Update
While the BCCFA and Tenures Branch working group has been set up to have regular meetings to discuss the old growth deferral process, the release of new information has been slow. We have requested the details of the methodology used by the Technical Advisory Panel for the analysis, including parameters and thresholds for deferral areas. We understand that they are expected soon with the release of the Methods Supplement Report as well as the validation and field verification procedures.

Answers to questions asked in the industry technical briefing sessions held in November can be found here

The BCCFA continues to advocate for an alternative process for CFAs that emphasizes the 8 goals of the Community Forest Program and the values of the local Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities and respects the plans, processes and relationships already in place to manage for old growth, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience. We propose that a localized approach on the area-based CFAs will better support government to achieve its stated intentions. We are working with our members to get a clear picture about the impacts of the proposed deferrals in their community forest tenures and details of their approaches to managing old forests.

Wildfire Risk Reduction Projects Update
For the last year, under the Economic Recovery Initiative, approximately $5 million has been allocated to 15 community forests for Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction (CL WRR) projects. The BCCFA collaborated with BCWS to build and implement the new program for community forests. According to Garnet Mireau, RPF, a member of Logan Lake Community Forest's management team ,“The planning and operational strategies supported through the WRR program to mitigate the impacts of wildfire are critical for safeguarding rural and First Nation communities.”

The next steps in the partnership between the BCCFA and BCWS are a work in progress. In the meantime, all CFAs with an interest in wildfire risk reduction work are encouraged to work with their Districts to identify projects that align with the new CLWR Planning Guide and which can be included in the District’s Annual Operating Plan for 2022/2023. For more information on this initiative visit the BCCFA WRR website page.

Wildfire Risk Reduction project on the Williams Lake Community Forest Photo by Tom Foley

New CLWR Planning Guide

Modernizing Forest Policy and Pricing for CFAs
Community forests are a vital component of the forest sector and of the economies of over 100 Indigenous and rural communities in BC. These tenures require unique policy approaches to meet the stated goals of the community forest program and remain viable partners. The BCCFA continues to engage with the provincial government in the full range of forest policy reforms proposed in the Intentions Paper – Modernizing Forest Policy in BC.

A new policy direction captured in the Intentions Paper has brought concern to operating community forests, namely the intention to revise area-based tenure specific pricing policy to harmonize the stumpage rate structures of Community Forest Agreements (CFA), Woodlot Licences and First Nations Woodlands licences (FMWL).

Paramount to the current and 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 stumpage system that acknowledges the unique role of community forests and reflects the full costs of operating them.

Government’s intention to harmonize rate structures remains a major focus for the BCCFA. There is a very strong rationale for maintaining the current pricing regime for CFAs, and to solve the issue by improving the stumpage arrangement for FNWLs. Any changes to the stumpage regime for CFAs could negatively impact the program and have grave consequences. By maintaining the current rate structure for community forests, the province will continue to support community forests to implement modernized forest policies and to meet the full range of community objectives while operating viable businesses.

Minister Conroy and her staff have committed to engaging directly with the BCCFA on this topic. We do not yet have a timeline for these discussions but we are keeping our members apprised of any new developments. In the meantime, we are actively preparing for engagement.

2022 Indicators Survey
The 2022 survey will be launched soon. The annual survey results provide critical information in support of the BCCFA’s advocacy work. It is vital that CFAs in operation for a full fiscal year participate in the survey. The link to the online survey platform will be sent to a representative of each BCCFA member organization. The link is created for each member organization and is specific to the organization, not to an individual. This makes it possible to share the link with others in an organization for a team approach to completing the survey. The deadline for survey submission is April 8th. Contact smulkey@bccfa.ca for more information

FRPA Improvement Initiative and FOM Webinar Recording
Changes to Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) are part of government’s plans to modernize forest policy in BC. The BCCFA has a FRPA working group that is working with the ministry to provide input specific to community forests. FRPA reforms will include the requirement for CFA holders to submit a Forest Operations Map (FOM) once regulations have been approved. In September 2021, the BCCFA and MFLNRO partnered to host a webinar to provide BCCFA members with a technical update on the changes to FRPA and the FOM software. A webinar recording provides a demonstration of the FOM software along with a Q&A session and is available to all BCCFA members. All CFAs will be challenged to adapt the necessary business processes to meet the legal requirements under the FOM expected to take effect in 2022.

Community Forests Webinar hosted by
Saint Mary's University School of the Environment

Presentation by Jennifer Gunter, Executive Director of British Columbia Community Forest Association, and Erik Leslie, Forest Manager for the Harrop-Procter Community Co-operative - November 30, 2021. link to the webinar

An Interview with Harley Wright, Chair of the Lower North Thompson Community Forest
"B.C.’s community forests are at the heart of sustaining rural regions" By Jill Hayward, The North Thompson Star/Journal read more

Wells Gray Community Forest Podcast
General Manager and BCCFA President, George Brcko is interviewed about the thoughtful, meaningful and purposeful way they are managing their tenure. Listen to the podcast

BCCFA Website Members Only Section
Contact smulkey@bccfa.ca for the password. The section is populated with a full range of governance policy templates & other resources.

Watershed Security Strategy Engagement

A discussion paper is now available that includes the science and policy opportunities for an eventual watershed security strategy and the public input to date. We will share more information about this process and how it relates to community forests in the coming weeks.

The discussion paper is supplemented with background documents on water governance, drinking water and watershed policy and management in B.C. The deadline for engagement is March 18, 2022 at 4 PM through the feedback form or written submissions. The Ministry engagement website is here

Forest Practices Board News Release - Forest Practices and Water: Opportunities for Action

Old Growth Deferral and Recruitment - A Special Edition of the Woodland Almanac
The Federation of BC Woodlot Associations and the Woodlot Product Development Council have published an information piece to provide a better understanding of what OG deferrals and recruitment forests mean to Woodlot Licences. Though it comes from a woodlot licence perspective, it is a good read for community forests. Tom Bradley, a member of the BCCFA Old Growth Committee, has written a great article on the Old Growth Selection Process. Link to the Almanac

Association of BC Forest Professionals Winter 2022 edition of the BC Forest Professional read more

ReTooling Newsletter - January 2022
ReTooling for Climate Change is a project of the Fraser Basin Council in partnership with BC Ministry of Environment – Climate Action Secretariat, with funding from Natural Resources Canada. It is focused on strengthening social, economic, and environmental resilience to climate change. Check out their website to learn about their work and about a series of workshops including

Indigenous Climate Resilience Forum February 9 to 11
Webinar: A Practical Tool for Coastal Communities to Manage Climate Change Impacts February 3
Webinar: Costs and Benefits of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation February 18

2022 ABCFP Virtual Forestry Conference & AGM
February 2, 2022 - February 4, 2022. The is an important networking event for community forests! The BCCFA will have a booth and we invite you and your colleagues to visit us there. read more

Southern Interior Silviculture Committee Winter Workshop March 1-3
Silviculture in a Changing Physical and Political Environment
BCCFA Executive Director, Jennifer Gunter will be a presenter on the topic of how collaboration affects operations on community forests. Registration Link Check out the Workshop Program

Forest For The Trees: The Tree Planters by Rita Leistner published by Dewi Lewis Publishers, UK. The book features photographs Leistner made of a community of 100 BC tree planters she lived with over four years, who are also the subject of her feature documentary film Forest for the Trees. read more

WFCA Virtual Annual Conference, Expo and Annual General Meeting
Wednesday, February 9 - 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 read more

Link to the Report