In the early story ‘Chinook Community Forest slower than anticipated’ published in the Lakes District News’ Feb. 11, 2015, edition, the Chinook Community Forest interim board of directors were hoping that harvesting would begin in the 2015/16 winter season.
Since then, the board of directors have submitted the forest stewardship plan, management plan, and business plan to the ministry of forest, lands and natural resource operations for review in order for the ministry to award the community forest license.
The ministry of forests confirmed that the submitted plans have been received by the ministry and are currently under review. The review of the plans is expected to be completed by late fall/early winter of 2015.
Burns Lake Mayor Luke Strimbold said the board of directors is still optimistic that harvesting will begin in the 2015/16 winter season.
“We are working with the ministry of forests to ensure the forest stewardship plan, management plan, and cutting permits are being processed and approved,” said Strimbold. “This is to ensure that when the community forest corporation is operational, the license can be awarded, cutting permits issued, and harvesting can begin as soon as possible.”
The Chinook Community Forest is a partnership of two local governments - Village of Burns Lake and the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN) – and six local First Nations groups - Burns Lake Band, Lake Babine Nation, Cheslatta Carrier Nation, Wet’suwet’en First Nation, Skin Tyee Nation and Nee Tahi Buhn First Nation.
The project started when stakeholders at Hampton Affiliates were deciding whether or not to move forward with the rebuilding of the Babine Forest Products sawmill after the explosion in 2012. One of the main concerns back then was the amount of timber available to supply the mill. The stakeholders stated that, to justify a rebuild, enough timber in the Lakes timber supply area needed to be available. The need for enough timber to supply the mill led local officials to propose to the provincial government that a second community forest be added to the area.
The proposed Chinook Community Forest would be run with the same legal structure as the Burns Lake Community Forest, with an annual allowable cut of 150,000 cubic metres per year.
Back in March 2015, the Village of Burns Lake withdrew from RDBN’s Chinook Community Forest economic development function. In a subsequent interview, Strimbold said the decision was prompted by council’s desire to have direct representation on the Chinook Community Forest board and hold its own shares in the new company.
“The Chinook Community Forest is unique in many ways,” said Strimbold. “It is currently the largest community forest in the province and it is the only community forest in the province to have a partnership between six First Nations (Burns Lake Band, Lake Babine Nation, Cheslatta Carrier Nation, Wet’suwet’en, Skin Tyee Nation and Nee Tahi Buhn Indian Band) and two local governments.” Strimbold said this community forest is a unique agreement not only locally, but provincially.
“This is the first time in history that we have a partnership between the six local First Nations and the two local governments,” he said. “Forestry has been the economic driver for our community for decades and it will continue to support the success of local businesses in our community.”