WETZIN’KWA COMMUNITY
FOREST CORPORATION.
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
• Background
• Purpose
• Community Support
• Application Requirements
• Where we are at
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
• 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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
• 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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
• 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.
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
• 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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
• 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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
Application Requirements
• 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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
7 person Board of Directors
Technical Advisory
Committee
Wetzin’kwa
Community Forest
Corporation
July 21, 2004
0765119 BC Ltd
Community Open House
INITIAL BOARD COMPOSITION
Community 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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
•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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
•To enhance outdoor educational and recreational
opportunities
•To increase community involvement in resource
management
•To reflect community values in decision making
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
Community Forest Agreement
Direct Invitation Process
END
Letter to
Proponent
Withdrawing
Offer
Direct
Invitation
Process
N
-“Rough” area negotiating ongoing
- Different by region or by licence offer
-“Rough” analysis doe to match area to vol
TRI
Apportionment
(Separate Process)
(Including FNC)
START
END
END
N
N
Volume
Available
Y
Land
Available
Letter to Proponent
Outlining
Deficiencies
w/ 60 day turnaround
BN includes:
-FN comments from FNC @ TRI
-Communications Plan
-Letter to Licensee
Region does
BN to Minister
Y
recommending
offer
Minister Invites
PCFA with BN
Package
Inclusions &
Application
Package to
Proponent
(1 Step Process)
30 days
TRI - Timber Reallocation Initiative
FNC - First Nations Consultation
-Assumes FNC done @ TRI, where
this is not the case, process needs
to be adjusted to involve
appropriate FNC
(ie Announcement to say FNC will
occur before tenure awarded)
July 21, 2004
Proponent
-Public Support
-MP
District/Proponent/FN
-Boundary Finalized
-FN Support
District
-FNC (Incorporating comments
from TRI FNC where available)
120 days
(Licensee Time / Not Ours)
Proponent Driven
Proponent
Submits
Application
Package to
Region
(2 hard copies
& 1 CD)
Y
END
“Progress”
demonstrated by
Proponent
Letter to
Proponent
Withdrawing
Offer
N
N
Review
Application
Region to Coordinate with
District & CFAC
30 Day
Deadline
30 days
Region BN
Application
to Minister to
Y
OK?
Recommend
Award
30 days
Minister
Decision
Region
negotiates
Y
Licence
Document with
Proponent
30 days
Approve
MP
Region or
District
Issue
Licence
END
30 days
= 9 months total.
(4 months are proponent driven)
Community Open House
150 days MoF
120 day Proponent Driven
& allows for consulataion
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
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
•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.
July 21, 2004
Community Open House
•Working with the Bulkley Valley Centre for natural Resources
Research and Management on mapping and inventory of NTFP
in the comfor area
July 21, 2004
Community Open House