Dunster Community Forest Gets 25 Year Tenure

Wednesday, November 25, 2009 03:54 AM

Dunster, B.C. -The plan for a community forest for Dunster, has been given the green light.

A 25-year community forest agreement grants the Dunster Community Forest Society the right to harvest up to 15,000 cubic metres of timber per year while preserving recreation and conservation areas within the community
forest.

The community forest covers a total area of about 20,000 hectares on two parcels of land near Dunster, one on each side of the Fraser River, east of McBride.

"With this offer of a community forest tenure, we hope to 'go back to the future' to re-invigorate and reintroduce small, community-based, locally-owned operations to provide jobs for the people who live here,"
said Archie McLean, chair, Dunster Community Forest Society.

Community forest agreements are area-based tenures that enable communities to more fully participate in the stewardship of local Crown forest resources.

"The citizens of Dunster have done an incredible job building their vision for their community forest, and we anticipate they will demonstrate innovative leadership as they move forward on the priorities set out by the community," said Jennifer Gunter, executive director, British Columbia Community Forest Association.

These tenures provide communities exclusive rights to harvest timber, as well as the opportunity to manage other forest resources such as botanical products, recreation, wildlife, water and scenic viewscapes.
There are more than 50 community forests operating or in the planning stages in British Columbia.