The Community Forest provides direct socioeconomic benefits to the Bella Coola valley through economic activity, employment and access to timber for processing and access to the land for recreation and tourism.
Our annual reports provide details on our economic and employment contribution on a yearly basis.
Economic Activity
On a yearly basis, the Community Forest generates just under $ 2 million of direct economic activity in the valley and most of this money is spent locally on contract services and wages. In a small community like Bella Coola, this is significant, especially when you consider the multiplier effect as those workers and contractors spend their money on local services and supplies.
As part of that $ 2 million, approximately $130,000 is paid to the government in stumpage and fees, not including taxes.
Employment
Although there is activity on the Community Forest throughout the year, employment is seasonal for the various phases of the operation, whether timber falling, road building or tree planting. During the course of a year, 10-15 workers are employed and since the community forest got started in 2009, the average direct local employment generated per year has been approximately 1,200 person days. These are well paying jobs and in a small community where there is little industrial activity, it provides a significant contribution to the local economy.
Logs for Local Manufacture
A goal of the Community Forest is to gain as much benefit locally from the surrounding forest resource. This means promoting local manufacturing and making logs available for sale to local saw millers on a priority basis at competitive pricing. The Community Forest produces a wide array of log types, sizes and grades, ranging from high quality, tight grained, clear sawlogs to smaller standard sawlogs to pulp logs. Douglas-fir and cedar are the most sought after logs locally. Douglas-fir is typically cut into timbers for post and beam construction while cedar is used for siding and outdoor applications like fencing and decking. The Community Forest can fully supply the local market and on average, about 1,000 m3 of logs are sold locally per year. With a dependable source of logs, the local market it is slowly growing and the Community Forest will continue to work to supply this growing demand. However, in the meantime, the remaining log volume is barged south to the Vancouver Log Market.
Logs that are not saw-able are made available to commercial firewood cutters first and any remains are available for public salvage on a first come, first serve basis. Please refer to the firewood page on this site for more information.
Access to the Land
The forest roads that lead into Bella Coola’s side valleys, were constructed to access timber; however, they are also an asset to the general public as this road network enables motorized access to the back country. This is especially important to local recreationists and tourists alike. Roads like the West Nusatsum and Clayton Falls are especially popular as these roads access high into Bella Coola’s spectacular alpine areas. On any given year, approximately 2.5 km of new road is constructed on the Community Forest to access new harvest areas, while 18 km or so of the existing road network is brushed or graded, yearly.
