wetzin’kwa community forest corporation

July 21, 2004 Community Open House

WETZIN’KWA COMMUNITY FOREST CORPORATION.


• Background• Purpose• Community Support• Application Requirements• Where we are at


BACKGROUND

• 1998 – a community economic development strategy was completed for the Town of Smithers, Village of Telkwa, and the surrounding Bulkley Valley within the Bulkley Timber Supply Area


• January 2001 – Mayor and Council directed the establishment of the Bulkley Valley Forest Community Economic Development Group to address the crisis facing the community as a result of the Skeena Cellulose situation

• Mill Diversification Feasibility Study, Request by the community for control of the Skeena Cellulose tenure in the Bulkley TSA


• December 2002 – supported the transfer of the SCI license to West Fraser

• Fall 2003 – application to the Softwood Industry Community Economic Adjustment Initiative to develop a community forest business plan

• March 2004 – engaged Lynx Forest Management to assess community forest models and volume requirements for profitability


• September 7, 2004 requested that the Minister invite us to apply for a community forest tenure of 100,000 m3 per year

• On April 11, 2005, the Town of Smithers, Village of Telkwa, the Office of the Wet’suwet’en, NEWPRO, and Pacific Inland Resources were invited to apply for a probationary community forest agreement for 30,000 m3.


PURPOSE

• To manage a profitable forest tenure business that generates revenue for community benefit through local management of forest resources and sales of timber to local manufacturers, emphasizing contract employment of local workers


OBJECTIVES

• Establish a long lasting relationship, based on mutual respect, between all parties

• Make a positive contribution to the long term economic, environmental, and social sustainability of the Bulkley Valley

• Expand the employment base in the Bulkley Valley


• Increase the security and stability of fibre flow to existing local logging contractors as well as local primary and secondary processing facilities

• Facilitate greater community input into forest management decisions and control over local resources


Community Support

• The partners were unanimously and wholeheartedly supported by:

• Bulkley Valley Credit Union • Northwest Community College

• Chamber of Commerce • Bulkley Valley Woodlot Association

• Independent logging contractors


• Business, technical and financial expertise and support from NEWPRO and Pacific Inland Resources

• Strong entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to community sustainability, economic vibrancy, and cultural and social well-being inherent in the Town of Smithers, Village of Telkwa, and Office of the Wet’suwet’en


• Description of the legal entity that will be the tenure holder

• Description and map of the community forest land base

• Written confirmation from the District Manager that the land base is suitable and available

• Evidence of broad community support• Business plan• Forest Resource Management plan

Application Requirements


INITIAL FUNDING

• $45,000.00 Western Economic Diversification

• $5,000.00 BVCU Economic Development Committee

• Working capital from NEWPRO or other financial partner for implementation phase ~$150,000.00


ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE

7 person Board of Directors

Wetzin’kwa Community Forest

Corporation0765119 BC Ltd

Technical Advisory Committee


INITIAL BOARD COMPOSITIONCommunity at large directors:

Richard Overstall

Andrew George Jr.

Dean Daly

Village of Telkwa: Ron Bowles Town of Smithers: Clair Lee

Office of the Wet’suwet’en: David De Wit

NEWPRO: Richard Norton


CORE VALUES

•To sustain a financially viable forest resources business for the long term benefit of residents of the Bulkley Valley

•To maintain and sustain functional integrity of ecosystems

• To protect water quality in watersheds

•To maintain a healthy balance of all plants and animals

•To recognize the Wet’suwet’en people and their culture


•To establish long lasting, respectful relationships between the partners

•Complete Wet’suwet’en consultation

• To expand local small business opportunities and employment

•To provide a safe and environmentally friendly work environment


•To enhance outdoor educational and recreational opportunities

•To increase community involvement in resource management

•To reflect community values in decision making


PROPOSED AREA

• The primary area being considered includes the existing Smithers Community Forest area (west of Seymour Lake) and westward to McDonell Lake.

• The total timbered land base area will consist of 30,490 hectares, 22,369 productive forest, and 15,717 thlb

• The annual allowable timber harvest (AAC) will be 30,000 cubic metres


Community Input

•Six open houses in communities

•questionaires

• presentations to groups as requested including BVCRB, Chamber of Commerce, BCTS registrants

•Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs


WHERE ARE WE AT?

•The full application package was submitted on September 12, 2006 including the forest resources management plan and business plan

•The two corporations have been established

• Waiting for the Ministry of Forests regional office to complete their review


TRIApportionment

(Separate Process)(Including FNC)

STARTVolume

AvailableLand

AvailableY

N

END

N

END

Region doesBN to Ministerrecommending

offer

Y

DirectInvitationProcess

BN includes:-FN comments from FNC @ TRI-Communications Plan-Letter to Licensee

Minister InvitesPCFA with BN

PackageInclusions &ApplicationPackage toProponent

(1 Step Process)

30 days 120 days(Licensee Time / Not Ours)

Proponent Driven

-“Rough” area negotiating ongoing- Different by region or by licence offer-“Rough” analysis doe to match area to vol

ProponentSubmits

ApplicationPackage to

Region(2 hard copies

& 1 CD)

ReviewApplicationRegion to Co-ordinate with

District & CFAC30 Day

Deadline

30 days

ApplicationOK?

Y

Region BNto Minister toRecommend

Award

MinisterDecision

N

Y

Regionnegotiates

LicenceDocument with

Proponent

ApproveMP

Region orDistrict

IssueLicence

END

= 9 months total.(4 months are proponent driven)

150 days MoF120 day Proponent Driven & allows for consulataion

Community Forest AgreementDirect Invitation Process

N

Letter toProponent

WithdrawingOffer

END

30 days 30 days 30 days

-Assumes FNC done @ TRI, where this is not the case, process needs to be adjusted to involve appropriate FNC(ie Announcement to say FNC willoccur before tenure awarded)

Proponent-Public Support-MP

District/Proponent/FN-Boundary Finalized-FN Support

District-FNC (Incorporating comments from TRI FNC where available)

“Progress”demonstrated by

Proponent

N

Letter toProponent

WithdrawingOffer

END

Y

Letter to ProponentOutlining

Deficienciesw/ 60 day turnaround

TRI - Timber Reallocation InitiativeFNC - First Nations Consultation


NEXT STEPS

•We are formally advertising to fill the community-at-large director positions – February 2007

•We are preparing an RFP for the General Manager position – advertise in February and award in April

• Hopeful that the tenure offer will be made in February

•Prepare a Forest Stewardship Plan

•Complete operating loan negotiations


•Announcement from the Minister in late December concerning stumpage for CFAs

• MOFR has issued a License to Cut in the comfor area to address the mpb sites that were identified on their fall overview flights

•Begin logging in 2008/2009

•Wetzin’kwa’s logging priorities: damaged stands with immediate risk of value and volume loss; over-mature, declining or susceptible stands; healthy stands.


•Working with the Bulkley Valley Centre for natural Resources Research and Management on mapping and inventory of NTFP in the comfor area

wetzin’kwa community forest corporation

Documents

community forest tenure

community open housepurposeto

community sustainability

community forest models

community benefit

forest management decisions

bulkley valleyexpand

surrounding bulkley