Growing Community Forestry on the Sunshine Coast
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The Sunshine Coast Community Forest (SCCF) has purchased Forest Licence A86929 and is seeking to convert this 12,000m3 license into a Community Forest Agreement (CFA). This represents a generational opportunity to increase the footprint of forest land managed locally for long-term sustainability, and to renew the call for partnerships with First Nations and local governments.
The Sunshine Coast contains many forested areas that are deeply important to local communities. These areas support drinking water, cultural use, wildfire risk reduction, biodiversity conservation, local employment, recreation, and access to forest products.
Our vision is to bring together lands that are of significant local importance into a larger, collaboratively managed community forest where decisions are made by the people and governments most connected to these landscapes. A collaborative community forest can provide a forum for balancing multiple values and interests through local stewardship.
It is important to understand that the SCCF, and any new community forest, is subordinate to all First Nations land use planning, Rights and Title processes, protocols, and interests. As decision makers within the swiya, shíshálh has been wholly informed and made decisions in support of the license transfer process to date. An expanded community forest would replace other forest licensees operating in our community interface areas with community decision-making - within the parameters of higher level land-use plans, and subject to all permitting, regulatory requirements, and professional standards associated with forest tenures.
Disclosures of submissions
About BC Community Forest Agreements
Community Forest Agreements are area-based tenures which enable local decision-making, long-term planning and accountability, ecological stewardship, and direct economic and other community benefits from forest lands near and important to communities. Community Forests are an opportunity to manage forests according to a locally defined balance of environmental, social, cultural, recreational, and economic values through governance structures that are directly accountable to the communities they serve.
The goals of the Community Forest Program are to:
provide long-term opportunities for achieving a range of community objectives, values and priorities
diversify the use of and benefits derived from the community forest agreement area
provide social and economic benefits to British Columbia
undertake community forestry consistent with sound principles of environmental stewardship that reflect a broad spectrum of values
promote community involvement and participation
promote communication and strengthen relationships between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous communities
foster innovation
advocate forest worker safety
A genuine commitment to the program goals is essential to the continued success of the community forest program in BC.
More Information about Community Forests in BC
About the Sunshine Coast Community Forest
The Sunshine Coast Community Forest Ltd. (SCCF) is a municipal corporation owned by The District of Sechelt (DOS), with office and tenure wholly within the swiya of the shíshálh Nation. In 2005, the DOS sought a community forest in partnership with the shíshálh Nation, and supported the equal involvement of all local governments on the Sunshine Coast. However, no partners joined, and the SCCF was created with a single shareholder, for the purpose of entering into and operating the Community Forest Agreement K3F for the past 20 years.
SCCF manages approximately 10,800 hectares of public forest land in and near community interface areas, provincial parks, and our community drinking water supply areas. The SCCF has a volunteer board of directors with diverse representation from across the Sunshine Coast, a community advisory panel, and extensive public engagement. The SCCF is an entity for local decision-making, public accountability, and community benefit in forest management.
Our mission: Through transparent, community-rooted stewardship of our forests, we create enduring environmental, social, and economic benefits that enrich the lives of Sunshine Coast residents and for future generations.
Our vision: The Sunshine Coast Community Forest is known for innovative ecological stewardship that strengthens forest health, sustains economic opportunity, supports local well-being, and fosters deep community connection to the land.
Revenues generated through forest operations are reinvested in forest stewardship, local employment, community initiatives, education, wildfire resilience, recreation, and other projects that support healthy forests and resilient communities. Through active engagement, collaborative partnerships, and a commitment to continuous improvement, SCCF strives to demonstrate how healthy forests can be managed and stewarded for multiple values while providing lasting benefits to the Sunshine Coast.
More about SCCF
2025 Annual Report - 20th Anniversary
2026 Strategic Plan
Invitation to Discuss Partnership
SCCF has reached out to First Nations and local governments regarding partnership and support, including specifically
shíshálh Nation
Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw
Town of Gibsons
Sunshine Coast Regional District
At this stage, no decisions have been made about partnership, governance, or operating areas. SCCF's preliminary submissions to the shíshálh Nation and Ministry of Forests to support the process to date has included a request to manage an area we know to be of community interest and best placed in local management, however we also understand there may be adjacent areas vitally important to values of potential partners.
We are seeking an outcome that is aligned with the broad principles and values of our community-developed strategic plan and the Community Forest program goals:
Respect for Indigenous rights, title, and stewardship responsibilities.
Local decision-making for lands of local importance.
Meaningful public engagement and transparency.
Sustainable forest management based on ecological, social, cultural, and economic values.
Long-term stewardship that supports healthy forests and resilient communities.
Recognition that recreation, drinking water, biodiversity, cultural values, wildfire resilience, and economic opportunities are all important considerations.
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