• First candidate area announced for Working Forest Landscape Model

  Source: British Columbia - Government News
  Date: 2026-09-15 14:45:00.0
  Tags: [British Columbia, Resources, Environment, Indigenous, Industry, Governance]

  The British Columbia Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, in partnership with the Na̲nwak̲olas Council (including the Tlowitsis, We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and K’ómoks First Nations), have identified an area north of Campbell River as the first candidate site to explore a three-zone Working Forest Landscape Model. The model divides public forests into a Working-Forest Zone for commercial timber, a Multiple-Use Zone for biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, and a Conservation and Protection Zone. This exploration phase aims to improve predictability for industry, workers, and First Nations while addressing fibre constraints, climate pressures, and biodiversity values across tenures such as Tree Farm Licence 64 and BC Timber Sales operating areas.

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• Community forests expanding in McLeod Lake/Mackenzie, north Island

  Source: British Columbia - Government News
  Date: 2026-09-14 19:00:00.0
  Tags: [British Columbia, Resources, Environment, Indigenous, Industry, Municipal]

  The British Columbia Ministry of Forests, led by Minister Ravi Parmar, announced the expansion of two community forests to enhance local forest management, support wildfire resilience, and secure sustainable fibre supply. The McLeod Lake Mackenzie Community Forest, established in 2009 and partnered with the McLeod Lake Indian Band, is being expanded by nearly 10,400 hectares with an annual wood fibre allocation of 20,000 cubic metres. Meanwhile, the North Island Community Forest LP, established in 2011, is advancing an expansion that includes more than 8,100 cubic metres of wood fibre annually. These area-based forest licenses are managed collaboratively by local governments, community groups, and First Nations to generate regional economic benefits and well-paying jobs.

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• Strengthening value-added wood manufacturing on Vancouver Island

  Source: British Columbia - Government News
  Date: 2026-09-09 17:30:00.0
  Tags: [British Columbia, Economy, Industry, Resources, Housing, Trade]

  The Government of B.C. has committed up to $2 million through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund to support an expansion project by Ron Anderson & Sons Ltd. in Chemainus. The investment helps the wood-product manufacturer upgrade equipment, diversify its product line to include prefabricated floors, roof panels, and stairs, and create 35 new jobs by the time construction is completed in February 2027. This initiative forms part of the broader provincial Look West strategy and $153 million in total commitments across more than 150 manufacturing projects designed to boost regional supply chains and counteract U.S. tariffs.

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• Setting new harvest level in Omineca region

  Source: British Columbia - Government News
  Date: 2026-09-04 16:45:00.0
  Tags: [British Columbia, Resources, Environment, Indigenous, Industry, Economy]

  British Columbia's deputy chief forester has reduced the allowable annual cut (AAC) for Tree Farm Licence 30 in the Omineca region by 17.6% to 340,000 cubic metres, effective September 4, 2026. The independent regulatory decision under the Forest Act accounts for changing economic availability, climate change considerations, and the protection of archeological sites, rare ecosystems, streams, fish habitat, and wildlife such as moose. The approximately 180,000-hectare licence area, located northeast of Prince George in the Prince George Natural Resource District, overlaps the traditional territories of the Lheidli T’enneh Nation, McLeod Lake Indian Band, West Moberly First Nations, and Tsay Keh Dene Nation, whose consultations and stewardship input informed the final determination.

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• Taking the next step to modernize B.C. forest management

  Source: British Columbia - Government News
  Date: 2026-08-27 15:00:00.0
  Tags: [British Columbia, Resources, Environment, Industry, Indigenous]

  The Government of British Columbia, co-led by the Ministry of Forests under Minister Ravi Parmar and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship under Minister Randene Neill, is introducing a Working Forest Landscape Model featuring a three-zone framework. The proposed model divides public forests into a Working-Forest Zone for commercial timber production aiming to stabilize an annual harvest of 45 million cubic metres, a Multiple-Use Zone focused on biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, and a Conservation and Protection Zone to support the provincial commitment to protect 30% of B.C.'s land base by 2030. In fall 2026, the Province will announce select candidate areas identified through engagement with First Nations, industry, local governments, and environmental groups to begin testing the zonation approach.

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