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Conference
Objectives:
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Exchange of
information and ideas
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Showcase
the BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA)
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Obtain
feedback on the BCCFA Community Forestry Tool Kit draft
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Promote
networking amongst people interested in community forestry in BC
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Identify
key directions for action to be taken by the BCCFA and the
provincial Community Forests Advisory Committee (CFAC)
Last month, 110 people from 60 communities across B.C. came together in
Revelstoke for the Community Forest Conference: Opportunities and
Practices. Participants included municipal government, forest industry,
1st Nations representatives, community economic development
organizations, water user groups and educators. BC Community forest
practitioners shared realistic and pragmatic stories of their
experiences, triumphs and challenges with communities interested in
pursuing a community forest agreement otherwise fondly know as “wanna-be
community forests”. An evening was dedicated to a presentation from a
number of well-known experts on fire interface planning, where an
emphasis was placed on the importance of community efforts to prepare
and manage forests in high-risk interface areas.
Forest
Minister deJong, Roger Harris, Minister of State for Forestry and Jim
Langridge, Director of Resource Tenures and Engineering Branch provided
details of the Forestry Revitalization Plan that includes a reallocation
of a portion of the provincial harvest to Community Forest Agreements.
Minister deJong also acknowledged the BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA)
and made a $1000 contribution as a token of his recognition of their
role and work, particularly with the development of the “Community
Forestry Toolkit”.
BCCFA was given a strong
mandate by conference participants to:
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Work with government to expand community forestry in B.C.
• Provide input to government to facilitate the success of community
forest initiatives.
• Provide support and extension services to communities all around
BC striving to obtain and successfully implement community forest
initiatives.
Copies of
the Speakers' presentations are
available online.
Contributions of the conference sponsors are gratefully acknowledged
•
Revelstoke Community Forest Corporation (RCFC)
• Community Futures Development Corporation of Revelstoke (CFDC)
• BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA)
• Columbia Basin Trust (CBT)
• Western Economic Diversification (WED)
Presentation
Summaries:
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