By Amara JanssensThe 2013 British Columbia Forest Association held its annual general meeting and conference on May 23, 24 and 25 at the Hudson Bay Lodge.
This was the furthest north the annual conference has been held and the first time the Wetzin’kwa Community Forest has hosted the event.
The purpose of the conference was to provide networking opportunities for managers and people working on the ground, said Amanda Follett of the Wetzin’kwa Community Forest.
The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, general managers and board members from community forests, students, researchers, consultants, and representatives from potential new community forests attended the conference.
A one day pass to the event was $250, and the full conference pass was $400 which included a field trip and banquet dinner.
On Thursday, May 23, the evening welcome and opening was free for community members to attend.
The Wetzin’kwa Community Forest Corporation is the licensee responsible for managing the community forest tenure jointly held by the Town of Smithers and the Village of Telkwa.
The WCFC manages 32,000 hectares of forest for economic, social and ecological development.
All revenue from the community forest stays local through community grant program.
For more information on the BCFA conference, visit their website: www.bccfa.ca.