September Newsletter

Update on BCCFA Strategic Planning
Thank you to the 32 member communities who participated in the survey. Congratulations to the winners of the draw. 1st Prize - One free admission to the 2013 BCCFA Conference in Smithers goes to Rob Furness of the Khowutzun Tribes CF. 2nd Prize - A BCCFA t-shirt goes to Peter Ackhurst from Cheakamus CF. The board and staff met recently with Vince Battistelli in a facilitated strategic planning session. Work is underway to take the products of the session to create a draft 5 year strategic plan. A work plan will then be developed and ready later this fall. The survey results are available here. A shorter summary of the results can be found here

New Community Forest Opportunity
Following up on the report from the Special Committee on Timber Supply, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNRO) announced a package of opportunities that are proposed to support rebuilding of the Babine Forest Products sawmill in Burns Lake. At the top of the list is the committment "to adjust the existing apportionment in the Lakes TSA to create a significant new Community Forest Tenure that would have a current AAC of approximately 150,000 m3 and be made available to a community partnership that includes one or more of the Six Nations..." The announcement of new volume signifies a great move in the expansion of the Community Forest program. It demonstrates how important it is for each community to continue to make their aspirations for expansion known to their local MLA & FLNRO office. more information

BCCFA Board of Director's Meeting Minutes and Executive Director's Report
August 2012

Joint Working Group Meeting Minutes
There was not a meeting in August

More News

Research Findings on Climate Change Adaptation in Natural Resource Management - Draft Summary of the closing conference of the Future Forest Ecosystems Scientific Council (FFESC) more information Summary of key messages from the FFESC research program more information FLNRO will be leading training and extension activities over the next year on adaptation to climate change including:

Five regional workshops on ‘forest resilience’ best practices (Kathy Hopkins)
Eight regional climate summaries (Dave Spittlehouse)
An ecosystem-based framework to support future adaptation guidance (Deb MacKillop)
Correlated tree species and stocking standards guidance for five high-risk regions (Ralph Winter)
Up to 15 extension notes covering the above guidance and other relevant topics emerging from FFESC research (Kristine Weese)

The BCCFA will keep members informed of progress on the above activities. The FFESC website will be updated in October more information

SISCO Fall Field Tour October 10 – 12, 2012 Forest Management and Silviculture in the IDF. This year’s field tour will explore a full range of forest management decisions, practices, and results in the IDF, from regeneration challenges to mature stand practices. Historical note: 32 years ago (1980) the SISCO Field Tour met at the Rock Creek Fairgrounds for a BBQ (sponsored by Pope & Talbot). One tour topic was “reported sighting of numerous red-topped trees … suspecting it could be Mountain Pine beetle activity”. The registration evening and wine tasting will be at the Holiday Inn in Osoyoos. Accommodations are also available in Greenwood, Midway and Grand Forks more information

Conference - January 16-18, 2013 Building Resilient Communities through Community-based Forest Management Algoma University, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
The BCCFA is a partner in this project that will include the development of a national community forest network. Susan will represent the BCCFA as a speaker at the event. The program, call for student posters, and travel subsidy application for community reps (BCCFA members are invited to apply!) are now available on the Northern Ontario Sustainable Communities Partnership website more information

Conference - Resource Roads in British Columbia: Environmental challenges at the site level November 7-8, 2012 Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort , Cranbrook BC Hosted by the Columbia Mountains Institute (CMI) more information
Additional CMI fall sessions include:

Natural processes for the restoration of drastically disturbed sites - course November 6, 2012 Cranbrook BC, with David Polster of Polster Environmental Services
Ordinary and logistic regression - course November 20-21-22, 2012, in Revelstoke BC
Design and analysis of distance sampling studies - course November 27-28-29, 2012, in Revelstoke BC

MFLNRO Summary of What's New Notices for September 2012 more information

Canadian Model Forest Network Bringing together the information, tools and best practices to support forest-based communities overcome obstacles that affect their long-term social and economic well-being. more information

Regional District of Bulkley Nechako Business Forum - Ride the Wave! October 16-17 2012 in Smithers more information