The Sunshine Coast Community Forest has passed its five-year probation and has been granted a 25-year renewable community forest agreement (CFA) tenure from the province.
Effective May 31, the new 25-year CFA replaces the five-year probationary community forest agreement tenure granted to the District of Sechelt in 2006.
Sechelt Community Projects Inc. (SCPI), the company that operates the community forest as a subsidiary of the District of Sechelt, was celebrating the news last week.
"The District of Sechelt saw the need for and benefits of having a community forest; an economic endeavour that is now proving its economic as well as its recreational value to the community," said Glen Bonderud, chair of SCPI. "We would like to thank all those who have contributed greatly to the creation and success of this operation: Mayor [Darren] Inkster and council, past mayors and councils of Sechelt; past chairs Mr. Len Pakulak and Mr. John Henderson; and past operations manager Mr. Kevin Davie."
Bonderud said SCPI will work to better understand the needs of the community in relation to the community forest in the future.
"As we look to the future, we will be working with the community to build relationships and a better understanding of all positions and opinions related to the management of the community forest," he said. "Our aim is to foster a better understanding of the economic, social, environmental and recreational benefits created and the jobs our community forest can create and sustain on the Sunshine Coast."
Inkster noted the new 25-year tenure will ensure local control of the community watershed, some of which sits within the community forest tenure.
"The granting of this CFA ensures that local watershed management remains in the hands of local owners and residents," Inkster said. "The District of Sechelt and SCPI are committed to protecting drinking water quality and to the maintenance of a high quality community watershed."
