2022 Annual Report

President’s Report

I am pleased to present the President’s report for 2022.

Barry Brekke, President

First, I would like to acknowledge that the Community Forest licence is located in Nuxalk Nation traditional territory and partially in Heiltsuk and Ulkatcho territories and it is with gratitude and respect that we manage the licence for the benefit of the valley community.

2022 was a disappointing year on the Community Forest as our operations were limited to cleaning up logging projects started in the previous year. Delays in cutting permit approvals prevented us from developing any new harvesting projects. Our contractors and crews however, kept busy logging private lands and supplementing work with Nuxalk Forestry in South Bentinck. We did help with facilitating the transport of Nuxalk Forestry logs to Totem Sawmill through our booming ground though.

The political landscape is changing quickly under the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) legislation whereby First Nations role in land use decision making is expanding. With blurred lines of authority, government is in a quandary and on the First Nations side there is a lack of capacity to take on greater responsibility, resulting in a permitting system that has ground to a halt. Our path forward is to try to develop stronger ties with the Nuxalk Nation community and we hope to announce some positive developments in this regard later this spring.

Much of the Board’s and management’s time was spent trying to initiate an Integrated Resource Management Planning process for the Bella Coola watershed. We were promoting that the Nuxalk Nation take a leading role in this comprehensive planning effort but the Nation was not ready to take this on. As recommended by the Advisory Committee and Bella Coola Resource Society, we investigated hiring third party facilitation to manage the planning but the costs were prohibitive for our small company. Our discussions with the Province are continuing and we hope to be able to roll out a process for comprehensive planning later this spring.

In support of resource planning for Bella Coola, we conducted a comprehensive Timber Supply Analysis which will help to inform decision making on a sustainable harvest rate depending on the available land base and forest management regime applied over the Community Forest.

Despite the low amount of work, 2022 was still financially successful thanks to the sale of our log inventory from the previous year. There are many challenges ahead and we are grateful for your continued support.

BCCFL Board of Directors

The Board is very much involved in directing the management of the Community Forest. The 2022/23 Board consisted of Barry Brekke, President; Troy Gurr, VP, Roger Brandt, Treasurer; Ed Willson, Bryan Apps, Thor Digustini and the BCRS designated Director was Mark Nelson.

Operations

Safety & Environment

There were no safety incidents but we did not work that much. Safe certification from BC Forest Safety Council was etained. There were no significant environmental issues to report.

Operations

We only logged half as much in 2022 compared to the previous year due to lack of permit approvals. Operations were limited to cleaning up that which was started in 2021 and we did not cut a single tree down in 2022. Logging was completed in East Salloompt and while our contractors kept busy logging private lands, we participated by providing log dumping and booming storage of the private land wood until ready for barge transport.

Log values started to decline in 2022 but they were still favourable and it is unfortunate that we were not able to log more and take advantage of the relatively high prices. Markets have continued to decline and 2023 will be challenging economically. To address the old growth deferrals issue we need to push ahead with valley forest planning.

Doug-fir seedlings at the nursery

Silviculture

Growing conditions in the first half of the year were excellent and the trees planted in the spring established very well. The prolonged drought in summer/fall did not seem to affect the new plantations, unlike the ‘heat dome’ the previous year. We worked with Nuxalk Forestry to train a planting and brushing crew and we will be working with them again in 2023.

Ezra Mecham at east Salloompt, Goat Mountain in back

Community

The ‘Grant In Aid’ program continued in 2022 with contributions going to Lobelco Hall, Rod & Gun Club, Norwegian Heritage House, Nuxalk Braves basketball, Food Bank and Bella Coola Search & Rescue to name a few. In total, $22,338 was donated. In addition, $ 7,567 was paid to Bella Coola Resource Society. Two community meetings were held to discuss status of old
growth in Bella Coola. With the capacity provided by the Community Forest and our contractors, private land owners were able to log some of their lands and were able to take advantage of favourable log market conditions. Finn Carlson was the recipient of the Oran Hoppe Community Forest Education Bursary.

Highlights