The Babine Lake Community Forest has an expanded annual allowable cut of 11,460 cubic metres per year, said a recent government press release.
Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad says it’s part of an effort to enhance economic opportunities and forest stewardship.
“I’m pleased to see an expansion in the allowable annual cut in the Babine Lake Community Forest … this expansion will provide jobs and allow economic expansion for the community of Granisle,” Rustad said.
Community forest is an operation managed by a local government, community group or First Nation for the benefit of the entire community.
They are long-term licenses designed with area-based management that gives communities exclusive rights to harvest timber, as well as opportunity to manage and profit from other forest resources such as botanical products, recreation, wildlife, water and scenic viewscapes.
The Forest Sector Strategy for B.C. says community forests are a ket element in supporting prosperous rural forest economies.
These licenses support the government’s Mid-term Timber Supply Action Plan, prepared in response to the mountain pine beetle infestation.
The action plan will help improve stewardship of our mid-term timber supply, while supporting B.C.’s forest-dependant communities.
