The Sunshine Coast Community Forrest (SCCF) has posted a profit for its sole shareholder, the District of Sechelt, for the third year running.
SCCF president John Henderson presented Sechelt Mayor Darren Inkster with a dividend cheque for $25,890 -roughly a 15 per cent return over 2009 - at the SCCF's annual general meeting Monday night (April 12).
"The forest industry has been in a period of challenging times for several years, and 2009 was no exception. But I'm pleased and very proud to say we met the challenges," Henderson said. "In 2009 our activities injected approximately $1.7 million into the local economy. We created jobs, social benefits and economic prosperity."
SCCF's annual report for 2009 states 20,398 cubic metres of logs were harvested in 2009, which Henderson said is in keeping with SCCF's licence to harvest 100,000 cubic metres over five years.
Of 2009's sales (which includes some logs harvested in 2008), about six per cent were sent to mills on the Sunshine Coast. Another 16 per cent went to Howe Sound Pulp and Paper. Sixty-eight per cent of the logs were sold within Canada, and about nine per cent were exported.
Henderson also took the occasion to announce the creation of the community forest economic opportunities fund -a $200,000 fund the SCCF's board plans to use for economic development on the Coast.
"It's the best legacy the community forest can provide to the community," he said. "We're putting this out to the community saying we have some money, we have some enthusiasm, we have some ideas, but over the next several months, we're going to hear from lots of people on how to best use the resources to promote economic development here on the Coast."
During the question and answer period, many familiar issues came up, including logging in the Chapman and Grey Creek watersheds and critiques over governance and accountability for the SCCF's board.
Halfmoon Bay resident Gord Bell asked Henderson to clarify what SCCF's plans are for logging in the Chapman watershed. Henderson said there are no plans for SCCF chainsaws in Chapman Creek.
"Let me say again, the board has committed and we remain committed that during the probationary licence period and the permanent licence, which we expect to get this year, there will be no harvesting in the Chapman Creek drinking watershed," he said.
Henderson went on to say that having local control over where logging will be done is one of the strengths of having a community forest.
He responded similarly to a question about logging in Grey Creek from Sunshine Coast Regional District chair Donna Shugar.
"At this time, we have no plans whatsoever to engage in logging in Grey Creek," Henderson said. "When and if we do have some plans to contemplate going in there, the first thing we will do is tell the world."
In response to critiques over governance, Sechelt Coun. Warren Allen stood up and defended the SCCF board's appointment process, saying that ultimately the board must answer to council, which has been elected to represent the interests of the public.
