The Bella Coola Community Forest has a unique structure compared to most other community forests in British Columbia. Whereas other community forests are typically connected to local government or First Nation, the Bella Coola Community Forest tenure is held by the local, non-profit Bella Coola Resource Society and the day to day management is done by the Bella Coola Community Forest Ltd, which is a local company made up of local shareholders. This organizational structure was designed to enable broad participation, protect the BCRS from liability and entrench community values into the management of the forest while recognizing the need for sound business in order to be sustainable for the long run.
Organizational structure of the community forest initiative :
Bella Coola Resource Society
The Bella Coola Resource Society (BCRS) was formed in 2003 to pursue and acquire a community forest licence. It is non-profit society and membership is open to residents and/or property holders in the valley for a nominal fee of $5. Members elect the volunteer Board of Directors. The BCRS holds the Bella Coola Community Forest Agreement in trust on behalf of the community, but it contracts out the day to day management and business of running the community forest exclusively to Bella Coola Community Forest Ltd (BCCFL). The role of the BCRS is to periodically (annually) review the performance of BCCFL in terms of meeting broad goals and objectives and that contractual obligations between the parties are met.
As holder of the CFA tenure, BCRS is entitled to a share of the profits from BCCFL, amounting to 15% of Common share dividend distributions. These profits are available for the BCRS to use for community benefit through donations and grants to various projects and organizations.
Bella Coola Community Forest Ltd
Bella Coola Community Forest Ltd. (BCCF Ltd) is the main entity operating and conducting the day to day management of the Community Forest. That means carrying out the business of forestry, including all planning, logging, reforestation, financial matters and all other related activities. Work is conducted by consultants and contractors with a preference for local operators in keeping with industry standards in term of safety, cost and quality of work. Logs are sold in preference to local forest product manufacturers at fair market value, but given the small size of the local manufacturing sector, the majority of logs are sold on domestic and international markets.
Role of the Community Forest Advisory Committee
Given the multitude of resource values and community concerns regarding use of the local forest resources, management is complex and can be controversial. Therefore, the Community Forest Advisory Committee (CFAC) was resurrected in Fall, 2017 to help advise BCCF Ltd and the BCRS on issues of concern. This Committee is made up of reps from local organizations with an interest in the Community Forest and individuals with a range of knowledge and connections to the community. The scope of the CFAC is to review and advise on matters of resource management, not the day to day business matters of BCCF Ltd. Local organizations that are represented on the committee are:
– Bella Coola Valley Tourism
– Bella Coola Rod and Gun Club
– Bella Coola Watershed Conservation Society
– Snootli Hatchery
– Trails Alliance
– Arts Council
– Bella Coola Valley Ridge Riders
– Nunamus Economic Development Corp
– Community member at large
