Background

Pursuant to the McLure wildfire of 2003 which burned approximately 26,420 hectares, and damaged 72 homes and nine businesses in the Lower North Thompson Valley including the Tolko mill in Louis Creek. This natural disaster affected the loss of a large number of jobs in our communities, and with government legislation allowing forest licensees to remove timber from our area without the benefit of jobs to our communities, volunteers came together to pursue a Community Forest License for the Lower North Thompson Valley.

---

Our Mission

To endure and provide to the Lower North Thompson through sustainable forestry.

Our Vision

To manage the forest for the benefit of all citizens of the Lower North Thompson Valley.

---

Purposes

The purposes of the society are:

• To create a long-term sustainable plan for forest resources that benefits the people of the Lower North Thompson;
• Preserve ownership of local natural resources for the people of our area, promoting self-determination for the people of this valley;
• To create sustainable employment, new business opportunities, and investment;
• To provide a new opportunity for community management of local crown land;
• To provide long-term opportunities for achieving a range of community objectives including:
  • employment;
  • skills training;
  • forest education;
  • social, environmental, and economic benefits.
• To meet the objectives of the government for environmental stewardship including the management of timber, cultural, and heritage resources.

Benefits of a long-term community forest license

• Profits provide revenue for much-needed community enhancement within each of the participating areas by providing grants to not-for-profit organizations, scholarships, and bursaries for graduating students
• To attract Value-added industry to the area by securing a steady supply of fiber at a fair market price
• Establish local control of forest resources and ensure good stewardship of the environment
• Create new, sustainable job opportunities