A community forest is a forestry operation managed by a local government, First Nation, or community-held organization for the benefit of the entire community. At its core, community forestry is about local control over the benefits offered by local forests (www.bccfa.ca). A Community Forest Agreement (CFA) in British Columbia is a long-term agreement to manage a specific area of public forest land. CFAs are granted only to legal entities representing community interests. CFAs give the holder exclusive rights to harvest timber on a specific land base. There are 61 community forests with CFAs operating across British Columbia. Learn more about them at www.bccfa.ca

A community forest gives the local community greater input and provides an opportunity to incorporate a range of community values in local forest management. It also supports increased awareness within the community about sustainable forest management practices. A community forest contributes to the local economy through employment and revenue sharing, as any profits made from forest operations go directly back to Squamish Nation and the District of Squamish. It can also provide a focus for people to learn about and be more connected with their local forests, and is an opportunity for growing relationships between people of Squamish Nation and the town of Squamish through this partnership.

The Squamish Community Forests spans 11,303 hectares on the hillsides east and south of Squamish, including portions of the watersheds of Shannon Creek, Raffuse Creek, Stawamus River, Cheekye River, Mashiter Creek, Ring Creek and the lower Mamquam River.

The lands are entirely within the Traditional Territory of Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation). The majority of the Community Forest is also within the Tsleil-Waututh/səl̓ilwətaɁɬ Consultative Area and the southern portion is within the Musqueam/xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Consultative Area.

The Community Forest Agreement (CFA) is held by the Squamish Community Forest Limited Partnership – a collaboration between Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the District of Squamish. The General Partner for the LP is Squamish Community Forest Corporation and the Limited Partners are the District of Squamish and, on behalf of Squamish Nation, SN Limited Partner Holdings Ltd., a company wholly owned by Squamish Nation. Squamish Community Forest Corporation is authorized to plan and implement the management of the Community Forest on behalf of the Limited Partnership.

The Board of the Squamish Community Forest Corporation is to be comprised of an equal number of nominees of Squamish Nation and the District of Squamish. An initial interim board has been appointed.

All operational planning and activities, including the day‐to‐day business of the Community Forest, will be managed by Sqomish Forestry LP, a forestry management company wholly owned by Squamish Nation. Sqomish Forestry LP will be responsible for the planning and implementation of forest management activities consistent with the Management Plan and strategic direction from the Board.

A Community Forest Advisory Group will be established to serve as a communications link between the Community Forest Board and managers and community voices. The Advisory Group will be comprised of individuals representing the diversity of community interests, stakeholders and First Nations. These include trail users, environmental stewardship groups and others. Group members will be nominated and selected by, and report to the SQCF Corporation Board of Directors. The process for Advisory Group member selection, duration of term, roles and responsibilities will be determined during the first year of the CFA licence. The Group will not be empowered to make management decisions but will be asked to give information and input on management direction, as advisors to the managers.

The Community Forest carries out all operations in alignment with the 2001 X̱ay Temíxw (Sacred Land Use Plan) and is working to implement Squamish Nation’s Stséḵtseḵ Forestry Framework.

Any timber harvesting proposals across unceded Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Ay̓say̓ch (Squamish Territory), including those from the Community Forest are subject to Squamish Nation’s due diligence review to ensure cultural sites and features are protected, and that best management practices are followed. X̱ápay̓ay iy ḵ’elhmáy̓ (Red and Yellow Cedar trees) are an important part of Squamish Nation’s review process – both to ensure cedar stands are maintained for future Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Stélmexw (Squamish people), and to ensure logs are available to Squamish carvers through Squamish Nation’s cultural cedar log process.

Input from the community is welcome at all times. The Squamish Community Forest seeks to develop and maintain positive working relationships and open communication with all stakeholders having an interest in the Community Forest land base, including community groups and organizations, the general public, and other tenure holders.

Public open houses (in person or online) will be held at least once per calendar year, during which recent and planned activities will be presented and opportunity for feedback provided.

All proposed road construction and harvest plans will be made available for public review and comment before being submitted to the BC Ministry of Forests for permitting. To the extent possible, proposed harvest/road plans will be presented at a public open house as part of the public consultation process.

Consultation regarding operational/block level activities will be carried out with all First Nations within whose Traditional Territory the activities are proposed i.e. Squamish Nation for all activities, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Musqueam Nation for planned activities within their stated Consultative Areas.

SQCF will develop a process for regular communication with Squamish Nation, and other First Nations about any specific aspects they would like to be involved with such as the stewardship of traditional plants foods and medicines and other cultural values. SQCF will offer to meet annually with each First Nation to provide information about and seek feedback on Community Forest operations and management.

Community Forest management will follow sustainable forestry practices and respect shared community values and goals. Initial values and goals were identified through feedback at open houses, meetings with stakeholder groups and the Squamish Nation’s Xay Temíxw (Sacred Land) Land Use Plan.

Values for the Community Forest include:

 Balance (between environmental, social and economic goals)
 Respect for all interests and resource values
 Environmental sustainability
 Financial sustainability
 Community engagement and social licence
 Outdoor recreation opportunities
 Educational opportunities
 Squamish Nation cultural values
 Other cultural values
 Cooperation
 Innovation

Social Goals
 Strengthen and grow relationships and partnerships between the District
of Squamish, Squamish Nation and community members
 Practice strong community engagement and communication
 Facilitate cultural use
 Support training and capacity building
 Respect and consider all land users and other tenure holders
 Integrate safety in all aspects of operations, for forest workers and the public
 Provide education and research opportunities for community members, First Nations, visitors and academics

Economic Goals
 Provide economic benefits/revenue for Squamish Nation and the District of Squamish
 Provide employment opportunities for local community members
 Support local secondary manufacturing

Resource Management Goals
 Manage and conserve biodiversity, ecosystem function and integrity
 Manage and conserve wildlife and wildlife habitat
 Maintain an appropriate level of old growth
 Protect fish habitat and riparian areas
 Support a well-managed outdoor recreation network of trails and features in balance with other resource values
 Protect cultural and heritage values and sites
 Minimize wildfire risk and manage for a wildfire resilient forest
 Protect and maintain community water supply quality and quantity
 Maintain visual quality and viewscapes
 Grow and harvest timber at a rate that is socially and ecologically appropriate and in balance with all other values

For a more in depth overview of the strategic level management direction for the Community Forest, we suggest reading through the Management Plan.

SQCF recognizes the importance of recreation to the local community culture and lifestyle. SQCF will strive to maintain and enhance recreation opportunities and access within the Community Forest.

SQCF will remain in regular communication with and actively collaborate with user groups and government agencies around recreation management and planning. Forest operations will be conducted in such a way as to minimize and mitigate impacts to recreation features and activities.

SQCF will collaborate ongoingly with trail and recreation groups regarding management and planning and will enter into a trails master planning process with interested groups, with the aim to develop a trails management strategy, including inventory, operational guidelines and phased harvest plans in the context of trails.

In the near term (i.e. while the longer term strategy is being developed) SQCF will work with the recreation community to manage the trails/recreation/timber harvesting interface on a block by block/case by case basis.

Yes. The initial proposed annual timber harvest volume (annual allowable cut) for the Squamish Community Forest is 20,000 m3/year. This harvest rate is based on estimate of timber supply and rate of tree growth provided by the BC Ministry of Forests. A more detailed Timber Supply Analysis will be conducted in the first five years of holding the licence to confirm the sustainable rate of timber harvest that is in keeping with community values.

Harvesting patterns are anticipated to consist primarily of small patch cuts and retention systems, with some use of selection systems where feasible. The majority of harvested cutblocks will be consistent with a retention silviculture system. Over the first five years, SQCF will work with the Board of Directors to refine operational guidelines. Patterns of harvest, location of retention and reserves will all consider site specific values and plan accordingly.

Any profits from the Community Forest will be shared equally between Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the District of Squamish. A more detailed process for distribution of benefits is in the process of being created.

Updates will be posted on this website when available, including announcements of open house events.

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For further questions or comments about the Community Forest, please contact us at squamishcommunityforest@gmail.com