Area residents invited to help guide forest management

Survey, in-person opportunities will collect feedback about what people value in local forests Residents in Cranbrook, Kimberley, Elk Valley and surrounding areas are invited to...

Home » Area residents invited to help guide forest management Survey, in-person opportunities will collect feedback about what people value in local forests Residents in Cranbrook, Kimberley, Elk Valley and surrounding areas are invited to share their input about the development of the Cranbrook Forest Landscape Plan, to guide forest-management decisions in the area. The plan focuses on improving forest management for the 1.2-million-hectare Cranbrook Timber Supply Area. “Everyone deserves a say in how our forests are managed, and when we’re all at the table, we can deliver forest landscape plans with clarity and predictability for our workforce and for our environment,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests.

“Forests are the foundation of creating opportunity at home and abroad. Over the last few months, we’ve made real progress on forest landscape plans throughout B.C. We need your feedback to ensure we get the Cranbrook Forest Landscape Plan right.”

People can share their thoughts through a survey that will run from Monday, July 13 to Sept. 25. The Cranbrook plan team will be present at local events so people can learn more about forest landscape planning and ask questions. Events details are as follows: Kimberley Farmer’s Market Date: July 23 and Aug. 6

Time: 5-7 p.m. Location: Howard Street and Downtown Platzl Kimberley Fernie Mountain Market Date: July 26 Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location: 6th Avenue, Rotary Park Fernie Cranbrook Farmer’s Market Date: July 25 and Aug. 8 Time: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Location: 10th Street, next to Rotary Park Cranbrook Sparwood Farmer’s Market Date: Aug. 28 Time: 3:30-6:30 p.m.

Location: 141 Aspen Dr., Titan Park Sparwood Forest landscape plans are being developed through collaborative planning with First Nations and engagement with forest licensees, local communities and other stakeholders in each local area. The partnering First Nations in the Cranbrook plan are: Shuswap Band; ʔaq̓am; yaqan nuʔkiy; Yaq̓itʔa·knuqⱡiʾit First Nation; Ktunaxa Nation Council. Engagement with other First Nations in the area continues to ensure there are ongoing opportunities for dialogue and input.

Engagement with forest licensees, subject-matter experts and the public is a key part of every forest landscape plan. This engagement ensures that operational expertise from forest licensees is incorporated into plan development alongside First Nations’ interests and community-identified values, a Ministry of Forests media release noted. Developing forest landscape plans is a new approach to forest stewardship that establishes clear direction for the management of forest-related values, such as old forests, biodiversity, ecosystem health, climate change, watershed health and wildfire risk.

Through collaborative planning and improved stewardship tools, these plans increase the stability and predictability of a sustainable timber supply to support communities and the forest industry, the ministry said. e-KNOW file photos e-KNOW