forest operations
2022-2025 Operating Plan Feedback
Our current Operating Plan was published on November 28, 2022 for public review and comment, after launching with a presentation and Open House at the Seaside Center with over 30 guests from the community. Written feedback is uniquely valuable in being able to accurately report on what people in the community are asking or telling us about our plans, however we also welcome anyone interested in discussing our plans or their interests in the community forest to reach out to us by phone or e-mail, at any time of the year. For the purposes of collecting feedback on this year's draft plan, the deadline for comments is January 31, 2023.
2022-2025 Draft Operating Plan
Fill out the Feedback Form here >
Fall 2022 Update
The Community Forest is focused on a made-on-the-Sunshine-Coast plan to implement Ecosystem Based Management, working with respected habitat ecologist Laurie Kremsater. Her and her team are performing landscape level and block level ecological assessments to better understand the ecosystems within the Community Forest, and recommend areas which should be in reserves to make our forests resilient for the future. We look forward to engaging the community, and working with the shishalh Nation's technical team for holistic planning that includes Indigenous and other perspectives.
Read the ecological assessments here >
Harvesting in EW24 is underway and expected to be completed by the end of the year. EW24 was commercially thinned by FLNRORD in the early 1990’s. Commercial thinning is the practice of harvesting some trees from a block, usually leaving dominant trees standing spaced out for the purpose of growing the remaining trees to larger sizes, faster. Thanks to this investment in the stand, we expect about 90% of the timber from this block to be marketable as poles, a premium log which garners a premium price.
Historically, this area was logged in the 1920’s and subsequently burned. The area is infected with root rot, and a research trial where patches of red alder were planted with the hypothesis that it may reduce the presence of root rot and also to observe the impact of different densities of Red Alder on nitrogen availability. A report on the findings was published in 2005 and the research installation has since been abandoned, and root rot does persist throughout much of the block.
EW24 was originally planned for spring 2022, but was delayed to allow a respectful period of time for further archeological consideration. As all our blocks, we obtained an Archeological Assessment provided by the shishalh Nation's trusted professional archeologists prior to applying for a cutting permit. This archeological information cannot be made public out of respect for the Nation who are guardians of their own cultural history, and in accordance with the Heritage Act. Publication of this information can lead to traffic, vandalism and degradation of important cultural site.
EW24 – Fall 2022 Harvesting
Planning for EW24 has included the following professional assessments, including for the first time, a Soil Analysis :
Planning for HM50 has included the following professional assessments:
HM50 – Harvesting completed March 2022
This block is currently being replanted. A local contractor has recently completed about 7,500m3 of timber harvesting in block HM50. Road deactivation has been completed and firewood permits should be available by mid-April. Twelve 40 yard bins of logs were diverted from waste piles for community firewood needs, including one delivered upon request to the shíshálh Nation’s Longhouse. Timber sales from this block to date have been sold 83% locally on the Sunshine Coast with the remainder being sold to a value-added manufacturer on the Fraser River, totalling $1.1 million
The Action Plan
Between April and June 2021, the Community Forest shared its 2021-2025 Operating Plan with the community for review and feedback
A big THANK YOU to everyone that participated
here's the result:
We're taking the following actions:
On Old Growth
Analyze biogeoclimatic zones within the Chapman/Sechelt Landscape Unit where there is an old growth deficit (less than 10%) and identify candidate stands that could serve as recruitment for Old Growth, using Madrone Environmental to help choose and verify the best areas to achieve this provincial and community objective.
On Wildfire Risk
Engage with the SCRD's Manager of Protective Services to collaborate on addressing their Community Wildfire Protection Plan's recommendations that fall within the Community Forest.
On Elphinstone
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Enhance communication with the shíshálh Nation around blocks EW18A, EW18B & EW19 to align our future plans with theirs.
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Initiate public engagement opportunities, including the formation of an ad-hoc committee of SCCF Directors, staff & local citizens to plan and develop EW18A, EW18B and EW19.
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Request a research trial from the MOFLNRO Research Branch that meets our goals of an Ecosystem Based Management model, and is in line with the Operating Plan
On Disc Golf
Support the Sunshine Coast Disc Golf Association's course proposal with permitting to Rec, Sites and Trails BC, and support funding for road maintenance for continued access to this site.
Our public engagement process makes space for people who care about the forest and how it is managed, resulting in an Operations Plan that reflects the needs and preferences of the community.
2021-2025 Operational Plan
The planned operations for the Community Forest for a five year period, the Operational Plan includes guidelines and maps to provide the public with a practical explanation of how the Community Forest will be managed, and where the Allowable Annual Cut will be harvested.
This is done with consideration for a variety of forest values, economic, environmental, and social benefits, and in compliance with the laws, policies, and regulations of the federal and provincial governments.
And it's more than a document – it's a proactive process for the community to participate in the operational planning of the Community Forest. The shíshálh Nation participates in the process as part of our Community and the stewards of their swiya in which we operate.
read the Operational Plan 2021-2025 >
Let your voice be heard!
Sign up to find out about upcoming community engagement and feedback opportunities