A small community forest on the shores of Babine Lake was recently expanded by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations (MFLNRO) to include another 2300 hectares of land.
The 36 per cent increase will benefit stakeholders in the Babine Lake Community Forest: the Village of Granisle, and Lake Babine Nation Council and Hereditary Chiefs. The expansion of the forest came at the request of both the municipality of Granisle and Lake Babine Nation - equal partners on the community forest board of directors - to help ensure the long-term viability of the operation.
According to the province, the increase in land base means the new annual allowable cut for the Babine Lake Community forest will be 10,088 cubic metres per year.
It is a small tenure, but important to Lake Babine Nation.
“Salvage operations on the community forest began last February and will continue through this winter,” LBN Chief Wilf Adam said. “There will be ongoing employment and business opportunities for Lake Babine Nation. We continue in working with our neighbours to achieve a sustainable future for our citizens, and continue working with governments for any increase to allocations.”
Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad said, “This is a great step forward for the Babine Lake Community Forest Society and for the region. It will have an important impact on the local economy and on community's ability to manage its own forest resource."