WHEREAS BCs community forests are struggling to secure a viable land base to involve communities in the local forestry and provide local jobs and economic and environmental benefits to forest communities; AND WHEREAS BC Timber Sales administers an abundance of land, without the level of community input and benefit as community forests: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the UBCM lobby the provincial government to grant the BC Timber Sales land base and tenure to community forests.
Ministry of Forests, Lands Mines The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Mines Ministry has had early discussions with the B.C. Community Forest Association exploring expansion, and is exploring options that meet the needs of community forest operators and the province. BC Timber Sales BCTS must auction approximately 20 percent of BCs timber to support the timber pricing system. The solution, like many things in forestry, lies in working together. Continued discussion and teamwork will lead to a solution. The Ministry is exploring ways in which BCTS and communities can work collaboratively. The community forest program continues to expand. There are 39 operating community forests in British Columbia, almost three times as many as the 14 operating in 2007.