Join Heather Beresford, Executive Director of the Cheakamus Community Forest, for an informative walk on Monday, July 15. Meet at the Whistler Interpretive Forest Parking lot at 5:15. We’ll depart at 5:30 and do an easy walking loop around the trails back to the parking lot in about an hour. Learn what’s happening in the CCF and bring your questions!
UPDATE on the Cheakamus Lake Road grading work.
The road grading crew has been busy this week adding gravel and grading the Cheakamus Lake Road all the way to the Cheakamus Lake parking lot! After years of a seriously bumpy drive, the road will be significantly smoother for the many people who travel along it. Thanks to the Ministry of Forests for including grading in their 2024 work plan. The Cheakamus Community Forest added funds for gravel to be laid down and bring the road surface back up to good quality.
The Cheakamus Community Forest has started a Facebook page. Follow us there to keep up to date on activities.
The Cheakamus Community Forest met with staff from the Crown Land Wildfire Risk Reduction (WRR) team at our project above Wedgewoods on May 28. Jonathan Murkin, Land & Resource Specialist from the Kelowna MOF office made the trip to the Coast to visit a few projects in the Sea to Sky corridor. The tour was organized by Sara Barker, Stewardship Officer, from the Squamish Ministry office with Ryan Tate, Land & Resource Coordinator WRR, and joined by Colette Fauchon, First Nations Relations Advisor, Klay Tindall of Lil’wat Forestry Ventures and Heather Beresford, Executive Director of the CCF.
We had a discussion about the Wedgewoods project specifically but also explored ideas for improving planning, funding and delivery of these important projects. As the risk and intensity of wildfires in BC increases, we are focused on managing our forest tenure to reduce that risk…but not at the expense of the environmental, cultural, and recreational values.
The 2023 annual Cheakamus Community Forest indicators report is completed and posted on the annual reports webpage. Based on the BC Community Forest Association annual report format, the CCF report addresses eighteen indicators to measure progress towards the following four key objectives:
A. Community forests provide economic benefits to their communities and to British Columbia.
B. Community forests provide social benefits to their communities and to the province; they promote community involvement and participation, and forest worker safety.
C. Community forests promote communication and strengthen relationships First Nations and non-First Nations communities and persons.
D. Community forest management is consistent with sound principles of environmental stewardship that reflect a broad spectrum of values.
Are there other indicators you would like to see included in the annual report? Have a read and let us know what you think.
An enthusiastic crowd packed the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre Longhouse on April 19, 2024 to hear a talk by well-known ecologist and author, Andy MacKinnon. He spoke on a topic important to many of us: the value of old forests and biodiversity. The night was hosted by the CCF in collaboration with the Association of Whistler Area Residents for the Environment (AWARE) with additional support from the Whistler Community Foundation.
MacKinnon shared key insights and recent research that highlighted the values of old forests described in New Future for Old Forests – A Strategic Review of How BC Manages for Old Forests Within Its Ancient Ecosystems. The report was submitted to the Minister of Forests in April 2020 by Al Gorley and Garry Merkel after traversing the province gathering information for two years.
Value of Old Forests Presentation
MacKinnon emphasized that we still have much to learn about old forest ecosystems and that citizens can share their thoughts with local community forests to shape how the forest is managed. The CCF shares that sentiment!
The Cheakamus Community Forest is committed to managing the forest so that it is healthy and climate resilient into the future. It says so right in the Strategic Plan. Under its Ecosystem-based Management approach, the CCF considers multiple forest values like cultural values, wildlife, sensitive areas and recreation uses. We are also committed to listening to our community members. Since we released the first draft 5-year harvesting plan in May 2023, we’ve continued to assess the proposed areas and developed an annual planning process with WORCA. This week, the updated plans were posted on the Harvesting webpage. Take a look, drop us a line through the Contact Us page.
It’s been a busy month! This post goes in the “better late than never” category.
The Cheakamus Community Forest held an information session at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre on November 24, 2023. About 30 people attended and most were new faces. Feedback was positive on the new approach which made more space for learning and discussion instead of focusing on hard-to-read forest harvesting maps.
Here’s the presentation.
Attendees provided lots of food for thought for the CCF to consider. Main questions and concerns were about how old growth can be protected over the long term, how the carbon project works, how logging decisions are made and how to create other economic opportunities within the CCF.
Here’s a spreadsheet showing all the comments.
Future posts and newsletters will include information to provide more information on these topics. Thanks to everyone who attended and shared their thoughts. This is what community forestry is all about!
Join the partners of the Cheakamus Community Forest from 3-5 p.m. on November 24 at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. Bring your neighbour and your questions.
At this information session, you will:
RSVP to confirm your spot today. Space is limited.
Friday, November 24, 2023 3 – 5 pm
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, Istken Room