What is a Community Forest?

A community forest is an area-based forest license that is typically managed by a local government group, community groups, First Nations, or a combination of local governments. A community forest is established for the benefit of the entire community and supports opportunities for recreation, wildfire resiliency, wildlife habitat enhancement, watershed management, First Nations stewardship, and contributes to a more diversified forest economy. Operations within a community forest provide a source of revenue for local priorities and community initiatives.

Benefits of a Community Forest

The City of Quesnel and surrounding area will benefit significantly from the Three Rivers Community Forest (TRCF). The City and surrounding area is highly dependent on the forest sector for income and employment, and the TRCF will play an important role in prompting local employment, economic opportunities for local enterprises, investment back into the communities, and providing fiber to local mills. Additionally, the TRCF will aim to promote local engagement through ensuring local contractors are utilized where possible and pursuing value-added products for local artisans and small and medium enterprises where opportunity exists.

The TRCF will promote ecosystem resilience and community protection, with a specific emphasis on wildfire risk reduction, through practicing more strategic and cohesive forest stewardship.  The TRCF will manage for a diverse range of values, including but not limited to cultural heritage and archaeological sites, scenic areas, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, water quality, and soils. The TRCF will allow the local community and First Nations greater input into forest management initiatives and will provide more opportunities for input into local forest stewardship.

The BC BC Community Forest Associations (BCCFA) Community Forest Indicator reports specific the benefits of community forests across the province. The benefits of community forests include:

  • Local employment by creating local jobs in rural communities.

  • Total economic activity by building the resiliency and local economy of rural communities. This contributes to the self-reliance and stability of local communities.

  • Community contributions by investing the profits back into the local communities. Community forests can have a positive impact on sustainable growth and inspire connections between local people and forest management.

  • Economic diversification using the expertise and equipment of the community forest to diversify the revenue stream and provide local employment.

  • Community accountability by engaging the community and providing a venue for local-level decision making that leads to locally appropriate decisions and improves the incentives to consider the long-term benefits of sustainable management.

  • Public engagement through outreach to the users of the community forest, leading to an improved awareness of forest management and increased potential to resolve conflicts over timber harvesting in sensitive areas.

  • Investments in community education and recreation through enhanced opportunities for education and research, while testing innovative forest practices.

  • Proactive management of wildfire hazard as most community forests are within the WUI and are therefore in a unique position to serve as leaders in the coordination and management of wildfire risk.

  • First Nations involvement by promoting forest management that respects First Nations rights and cultural values, and fosters understanding and cooperation between rural communities and First Nations.

  • Investments in forest stewardship through forward-thinking, innovative, and holistic approaches to achieve resiliency and a positive legacy for future generations[1].

https://bccfa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/BCCFA-Indicators-2024.pdf