Community Forest Application Still in the Works

Monday, November 14, 2005 03:55 AM

The City of Prince George has been given an extension to submit its application for a Community Forest Agreement to deal with the Mountain Pine Beetle.

The Ministry of Forests has given the City until the end of January to file the application. That should give the Environmental Services Department of the City enough time to develop a business model.

Urban Forester with the Environmental Services Department, Kim Menounos, says it is hoped that once the application is filed, the Ministry will expedite approval.

The agreement would permit an allowable annual cut of pine beetle trees on all the Crown lands within the City’s limits. The City’s total area is 33, 000 hectares, which includes about 3,000 hectares of Crown land.

The standing dead trees in the City must be removed in order to reduce the risk of wildfire.

The Community Forest Agreement would be for a 5 year tenure and under the province’s description is “ any forestry operation managed by a local government, community group or First Nation for the benefit of the entire community.”

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Posted on Monday, November 14, 2005 03:55 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: owl on November 14 2005 9:41 AM

I am wondering why the City requires an extension to the application deadline.

Posted by: Opatcho on November 14 2005 10:34 AM

What Im wondering is why is the City in the logging business. If these are in fact crown lands it would be the responsibilty of the Province to reduce the fire hazard.
Since the forest fire that Kelowna had many comunities are on the band wagon for forest cleanup on crown lands ajacent to cities.
But I guess its the the same old story our people at City Hall dont have enough to do and are trying to create projects to keep them busy.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on November 15 2005 7:41 AM

What were the results of the vote as to whether we wanted the city in the logging business? I voted NO.

Posted by: owl on November 15 2005 11:49 AM

The land is within the City limits.

The City can get a license to cut the beetle killed wood.

The harvested beetle killed wood can be sold.

When the beetle killed wood is sold, a profit can be made.

A profit means that there will be money coming to the city which would not normally be available.

Is there something I am getting wrong here? Perhaps the province should do it and put it into provincial coffers.

Posted by: owl on November 15 2005 12:07 PM

Community forests are not about logging. Community forests are about communities taking charge of the forestry land within their city limits and even adjacent to those boundaries in some situations.

This is a forestry town. There are many others who have community forests and have had them for over a decade. This city has talked about it for as long and has not done anything about it other than the 140 hectare forests for the world site.

Of course, maybe we need others to lead the way in such efforts as they often do. What else is new?

http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hth/community

Posted by: owl on November 15 2005 12:08 PM

http://www.denmanis.bc.ca/directory/revel.htm