BC Community Forest Association - BCCFA

BC Community Forest Association - BCCFA Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from BC Community Forest Association - BCCFA, Nonprofit Organization, Victoria, BC.

The BC Community Forest Association represents over 100 rural and Indigenous communities across our province to aid in managing forests that align with community values.

Indicator #15 from our 2025 Indicators Report highlights First Nations Collaboration Community forestry is a strong pat...
06/23/2026

Indicator #15 from our 2025 Indicators Report highlights First Nations Collaboration

Community forestry is a strong pathway to supporting reconciliation, with over half of BC’s community forests held by First Nations or operated in partnership. As reconciliation becomes an increasingly central consideration in land management across the province, community forests offer tangible examples of how respectful partnerships can grow.

Nearly 60% have cooperative planning with local First Nations, integrating cultural values and traditional knowledge into management.

In the reporting year, 78% of survey respondents acted on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act through co-ownership, co-management, or shared decision-making, showing how community forests advance reconciliation through meaningful, evolving partnerships.

Read the full report at www.bccfa.ca

06/19/2026

As National Indigenous Peoples Day approaches on June 21, we are highlighting the leadership and collaboration that help make community forests successful across British Columbia.

Watch the video clip below featuring Albert Gerow, Natural Resources Advisor, Ts’il Kaz Koh Nation, as he shares how First Nations, local governments and community members work together to guide community forest operations.

Meet the BCCFA’s Wildfire Resiliency Regional Liaisons! Gord Pratt (South) Sam Coggins (North) Simon Craig (Coast) They ...
06/17/2026

Meet the BCCFA’s Wildfire Resiliency Regional Liaisons!
Gord Pratt (South)
Sam Coggins (North)
Simon Craig (Coast)

They are working directly with CFAs to navigate funding, connect practitioners, and support participation in wildfire planning processes.

The project is led by Jennifer Gunter, with support from Angela French and Erik Leslie, and in collaboration with partners including the University of British Columbia’s Centre for Wildfire Coexistence and the Wildfire Resilience Consortium of Canada.

Learn more at https://www.bccfa.ca/wildfire-risk-reduction

BCCFA Executive Director, Jennifer Gunter, and Director Denise English are participating in the UBC Faculty of Forestry ...
06/12/2026

BCCFA Executive Director, Jennifer Gunter, and Director Denise English are participating in the UBC Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship study tour in Finland, alongside many forestry and allied professionals from across British Columbia.

A central focus of the tour is Finland’s collaborative and integrated approach, that derives value from precommercial thinning all the way to the highest value log. Through meetings with leaders from government, industry, research, and education, participants are gaining firsthand insight into how Finland has built a successful forest culture.

The BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA) hosted its Conference and Annual General Meeting in Vernon last week with a ...
06/08/2026

The BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA) hosted its Conference and Annual General Meeting in Vernon last week with a completely sold-out event. The three-day gathering brought together community forest leaders, First Nations partners, industry representatives, and supporters from across the province to connect and explore the challenges and opportunities of community forestry in the years ahead.

“Our association would like to extend our most sincere appreciation to everyone who joined us, including the presenters and panelists who shared their knowledge, perspectives and experiences,” shared Jennifer Gunter, Executive Director of the BCCFA. “A big thank you to our field tour hosts from the Monashee Community Forest for the warm welcome, valuable insights into their silvopasture work, and for generously sharing their culture, practices, and community contributions. This event is not possible without our sponsors and those who worked behind the scenes to make this event a success, so thank you!”

Read more: https://www.bccfa.ca/post/the-bc-community-forest-association-wraps-up-its-sold-out-conference-in-vernon

Our third and final day of the 2026 BCCFA Conference and AGM in Vernon, BC began with our Annual General Meeting. Congra...
06/06/2026

Our third and final day of the 2026 BCCFA Conference and AGM in Vernon, BC began with our Annual General Meeting. Congratulations to our newly elected Board members, Donna Brochez (Burns Lake Community Forest), Brian Frenkel (Vanderhoof Community Forest), and Francis Johnson (Esk’etemc). We also extend our sincere thanks to outgoing Board members Dan Macmaster and Steve Lorimer for their many years of dedicated service and leadership.

Following the AGM, attendees heard from Jodi, Alana, and Laura of the Silviculture Innovation Program at the Bulkley Valley Research Centre on the importance of storytelling in forestry. Their presentation highlighted how relatable, authentic stories, can help communicate complex ideas and inspire action.

We were also honoured to welcome Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar virtually to the conference. Minister Parmar spoke about his commitment to expanding the community forest program in BC, answered questions from attendees, and acknowledged the important work community forests are doing across the province. Thank you, Minister Parmar, for taking the time to join us and share your perspectives.

The conference concluded with our “Big Ideas” panel, focused on innovation, creative thinking, and challenging conventional approaches in forestry. Moderated by Jason Fisher, the panel featured Erik Leslie, Dan Macmaster, Kyle Runzer, and Trish Balcaen, who shared perspectives on how community forests are uniquely positioned to manage for a broad range of social, economic, cultural, and environmental values alongside timber management.

A heartfelt thank you to all conference attendees, dignitaries, delegates, speakers, panelists, moderators, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers from Monashee Community Forest, our MC Molly Hudson, the BCCFA Board, the staff at the Prestige Vernon Lodge, Trina Antoine and Frank Joe of Splatsin First Nation, photographer Ash Simpson, and New Horizons Productions for helping make this year’s conference such a success.

We look forward to sharing details about next year’s conference as we prepare to celebrate the BCCFA’s 25th anniversary.

Day 2 of the 2026 BCCFA Conference and AGM was started off in a good way by Trina Antoine from the Splatsin First Nation...
06/05/2026

Day 2 of the 2026 BCCFA Conference and AGM was started off in a good way by Trina Antoine from the Splatsin First Nation. Thank you Trina for your storytelling!

Sessions today ranged in topics including new Community Forest Agreement Program goals. Attendees had the opportunity to review the goals and brainstorm actions they could take in their own CFA’s to strive to meet these goals.

Next, a panel about Annual Allowable Cut and Timber Supply spoke to how AAC is determined for various licensees in BC, two community forests told us their experience with adjusting their AAC, and we heard interesting perspectives on strategic growth, practical management, and long term sustainability.

The panel “Community Forest Showcase: Defining and Delivering Benefits” gave us an interesting deep dive into four CFA’s governance structures and how they determine annual benefits. Thanks to the Nakusp and Area CF, Williams Lake CF, Sunshine Coast CF, and Wetzin’Kwa CF.

The last session of the day was interactive with the BCCFA’s three regional wildfire liaisons. After brief presentations from wildfire experts, Shelagh Pyper from Fuse Consulting and Angela French from the BCCFA organized attendees to network, answer guided questions, and brainstorm innovative wildfire risk reduction techniques.

The banquet wrapped up the day, with awards and a silent auction!

On Day 2 of the 2026 BCCFA Conference and AGM we heard from HélèneMarcoux from the UBC Malcolm Knapp Research Forest as ...
06/05/2026

On Day 2 of the 2026 BCCFA Conference and AGM we heard from Hélène
Marcoux from the UBC Malcolm Knapp Research Forest as our keynote speaker.

Hélène’s engaging and energizing talk focused on strengthening public understanding of forestry.

With inspiring ideas for engagement, her key theme was “lean into stories, be real, be vulnerable, and don’t use so many acronyms.”

At the research forest, near Maple Ridge, they have many different programs and initiatives that education the public and bring people to the forest for tours, talks, and events. They have fostered incredible partnerships and opportunities for diversification.

Thank you to Hélène for sharing your ideas and inspiring us to continue our work with impactful community engagement.

Day 1 of the 2026 BCCFA Conference and AGM was a success! Hosted in Vernon, BC this year, the Monashee Community Forest ...
06/04/2026

Day 1 of the 2026 BCCFA Conference and AGM was a success!

Hosted in Vernon, BC this year, the Monashee Community Forest were our welcoming hosts. Monashee CF is a partnership between the Village of Lumby and the Splatsin First Nation.

Day 1 included a field tour on the Monashee CF above Lumby, BC, to showcase their Silvopasture work.

Silvopasture is a forestry management practice that combines multiple values to achieve a few different objectives. The area that MCF showed us created grazing pasture for cattle, and integrated wildfire risk reduction for the community of Lumby. The treated area also supports good recreation opportunities.

We heard from Kyle Runzer, Nick Barry, Frank Joe, Courtney Strassburger, and Nicole Williams from the Splatsin First Nation, Trish Balcaen from Coldstream Ranch, Rick Fairbairn (Area D RDNO Director), and Rob Dinwoodie, an agriculture consultant.

And thank you to all of the support team for your efforts to transport, and feed the crew in the field.

The reception will close out tonight, and Day 2 will be a full day of exciting sessions!

06/02/2026

Community forests — local forestry creating local benefits.

Take a listen to some of the work being done at Logan Lake Community Forest. 🎥🌲

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Victoria, BC
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