Where we have been and where we are going
A great deal of preliminary work has been done for the City of Port Alberni to realize a community forest licence agreement. The following timeline shows the groundwork that has been done.
October, 2003 - Port Alberni Mayor Ken McRae, Franklin Forest Product’s owner Pat McKay, and Alberni-Qualicum MLA Gillian Trumper lobbied the government for almost one year to obtain a community forest licence for the City of Port Alberni. Undeterred by an initial negative response, the group persisted and persuaded the Minister of Forests to offer an opportunity to apply for a licence.
October, 2004 - The Minister of Forests and Range (MoFR), on behalf of the Province of British Columbia, invited the City of Port Alberni to apply for a Probationary Community Forest Agreement for a term of 5 years with an Annual Allowable Cut (AAC) of 22, 000m3. The AAC is the amount of timber from public forest lands that can be logged legally each year, expressed in cubic metres.
Early 2005 - The Port Alberni City Council created the Community Forest Advisory Committee chaired by Mayor Ken McRae to undertake the implementation of the Community Forest. The members of the Advisory Committee lobbied for the most advantageous land base for the Community Forest and directed preparation of the Community Forest licence application. Committee members were Dave Bishop, Penny Côté, Don Dowling, Warren Lauder, Neil Malbon, Jack McLeman, Ken McRae, Dan Powell, Les Sam, Gary Swann, and Ken Watson.
February, 2005 - A Timber Supply Analysis showed the AAC could be achieved from a reallocation of 8206 hectares of the Arrowsmith Timber Supply area which included five areas of Crown land in the vicinity of Sproat Lake.
February, 2005 (ongoing) - Ministry of Forest and Range consultation with First Nations on tenure opportunity.
September, 2006 - After consultation with local First Nations the area proposed for the Alberni Valley Community Forest was reduced to 6366 hectares with an AAC of 18,688m3.
October, 2006 - The City of Port Alberni posted a “Request for Proposals to Provide Consulting Services to Facilitate a Community Forest Licence” as the city needs to apply for the Probationary Community Forest Agreement. To apply for the probationary agreement the city needs show that the community wants the forest licence and has the capacity to manage the land base. The application must document community support for the project; create a plan to manage forest resources; and develop a business plan.
December, 2006 - The city awarded the contract to apply for the Probationary Community Forest Licence to DRH Forest Consulting of Port Alberni.
January, 2007 - Because the proposed Community Forest land base contains a large amount of immature (not ready to harvest) forest and some of the wood is difficult to access, the Community Forest Advisory Committee requested that DRH Consulting prepare a viability study to determine the timber available could provide a viable business opportunity.
May, 2007 - DRH Forest Consulting viability proposal concluded that the proposed land base can provide an economic harvesting opportunity if properly managed.
June, 2007 - The City of Port Alberni advised the MoFR that they will proceed with the application for the Probationary Community Forest Agreement.
August to October, 2007 - The Community Forest Advisory Committee consulted with the community regarding their values and priorities for the community forest land base. Discussions occurred at the Alberni District Fall Fair, at a booth for National Forest Week, and at two open houses at City Hall and at Sproat Lake Community Hall.
November, 2007 - Community survey results show strong support for the Community Forest.
November, 2007 to February, 2008 - DRH Forestry Consulting has been using the survey results and desired forest management standards expressed during community consultation to develop the Licence Application and Forest Management Plan for the Community Forest.
March, 2008 - DRH Consulting completed the draft application for Community Forest licence including the required Management Plan, Forest Stewardship Plan, Business Plan and documentation of the public input process.
September, 2008 - Final version of the Application for Community Forest Licence was forwarded by the Community Forest Advisory Committee for approval of City Council and subsequent submission to the Ministry of Forest and Range.
October, 2008 - Formal application for a Community Forest licence was submitted to the Ministry of Forest and Range.
September, 2009 - The Provincial Inspector of Municipalities approved the City of Port Alberni’s request to create the Alberni Valley Community Forest Corporation. This Corporation to be arm’s length from the City and responsible for all aspects of running the Community Forest.
October, 2009 - The Ministry of Forest and Range, after review of the licence application and of responses to some questions regarding the application, provide approval of the application.
October, 2009 - Alberni Valley Community Forest Corporation was formally Incorporated. An interim Board of Directors selected from the Advisory Committee was installed pending nomination and approval by City Council of the regular Board.
November, 2009 - The Community Forest Agreement between the Ministry of Forest and Range and the Alberni Valley Community Forest Corporation was signed at City Hall in Port Alberni on November 2, 2009. This agreement has a term of 25 years.
December, 2009 - City of Port Alberni advertised for expressions of interest from individuals wishing to serve on the Alberni Valley Community Forest Board of Directors.
February, 2010 - City Council appointed the Board of Directors of the Alberni Valley Community Forest. The Board is comprised of Jim Sears, Gary Swan, Ed Proteau, Chris Duncan, Chris Law, Warren Lauder and Robert Hunter. City Councillor Jack McLeman serves as Council liaison to the Board.
May, 2010 - Board of Directors of the Alberni Valley Community Forest held their inaugural meeting on May 3, 2010.
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