Stronger communities. Together.

Situated in the central interior of British Columbia (BC), Quesnel is a vibrant community situated on the confluence of the Quesnel River, Fraser River, and Baker Creek. Quesnel is located halfway between the cities of Prince George and Williams Lake and is on the main route to northern BC and the Yukon. It is the largest urban center between Prince George and Kamloops, with a surrounding population of over 23,000[1].

Quesnel is one of the most forestry dependent communities in the province, with over 1,500 direct jobs dependent on the sector. Historically, Quesnel has played a vital role as a supply center for northern exploration and resource extraction, with deep roots in the forest industry dating back to the gold rush in the 1860s. Today, forestry continues to be the leading industry in the community.

Significant uncertainty and challenges in traditional forest management, however, exist in the area due to mid-term timber supply challenges, sweeping forest policy changes, and the impacts of large-scale ecosystem disturbances such as recent wildfires and the Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB) epidemic. Considering these current challenges in the forest sector, a community-held area-based tenure represents the path forward for Quesnel. Smaller tenures offer the opportunity for strategic alliances and collaborative land management to create a competitive fiber market and provide volume for a variety of economic opportunities that enhance the value of our forest resources.

Through collaborative land management, the Lhtako Dene, Nazko, ?Esdilagh, and Lhoosk’uz Dene Nation Governments, along with the City of Quesnel, are implementing innovative and sustainable forest management practices that support community values and ecosystem resiliency.

With the establishment of the Three Rivers Community Forest (TRCF) under a community forest agreement, our communities are actively advancing a range of shared objectives, values, and priorities. These efforts include integrated fuel management to reduce wildfire risk, applying innovative forest management practices to enhance ecosystem resiliency, developing trails and recreation opportunities, incorporating First Nations traditional and ecological knowledge into land management, and fostering economic diversification to strengthen the local economy.

The TRCF continues to build strategic alliances and collaborative approaches that enhance community resiliency and long-term stability while maximizing the benefits and value derived from the land base.