What is a Community Forest?

​A community forest agreement (CFA) is an area-based forest licence managed by a local government, community group, First Nation or combination of local governments, First Nations and community groups, for the benefit of the entire community.
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Community forests support opportunities in areas such as recreation, wildlife and watershed management for communities and contribute to a more diversified forest economy.

Harvesting operations provide a source of revenue for supporting local priorities and community initiatives. Harvest rates and exact locations within the tenure can be set to meet locally determined objectives and interests. 

CF Background

On June 19, 2020, a partnership of the Fort Nelson First Nation (FNFN) and Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM) received the largest community forest licence ever awarded in British Columbia. With an annual allowable cut (AAC) of up to 217,650 cubic metres from approximately 200,000 hectares of specified Crown land in the Fort Nelson area, the licence awarded to the FNFN/NRRM partnership has both the largest harvestable volume, as well as the largest physical area, of any community forest in the province.

 The licence provides for maintenance and distribution of diverse forest types throughout the agreement area, including coniferous stands, mixed-wood stands and deciduous stands. Of the 217,650 annual cubic metres, partitions include a maximum conifer harvest of 118,000 cubic metres, with the remainder to come from deciduous stands to achieve and maintain the current diversity.


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Fort Nelson Timber Supply Area

​The Fort Nelson Timber Supply Area (TSA) is the second largest in British Columbia and covers an area of almost 9.9 million hectares in the northeastern corner of the province, within the Northern Interior Forest Region. The TSA is located entirely in the Boreal forest and comprised of mixed wood stands.

​The topography of the TSA forms a gradient of increasing relief from east to west, encompassing parts of the Alberta plateau, the Rocky Mountain Foothills, the Liard Plateau, the Liard Plain, the Kechika River Valley and a portion of the Cassiar Mountains. The entire region lies within the Arctic watershed and is largely drained by the Liard River and its major tributaries, including the Fort Nelson, Prophet, Muskwa, Toad, Kechika and Petitot rivers.

The Fort Nelson TSA contains 33 parks, protected areas and ecological reserves, including Muncho Lake Provincial Park, Stone Mountain Provincial Park, and many others, totaling over 10% of the area of the TSA. The southwestern portion of the TSA overlaps a large portion of the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area, with wildlife habitat that supports sizeable diverse populations of large mammals. 

Mission Statement

-To establish and provide local control of dedicated forest resources to encourage local harvesting and processing of this vital resource.
-To provide for self-determination, economic diversity and stability for the Partner
communities.
-To provide a broader perspective on the forest industry in BC for our Partner communities.
-To practice and model excellence in forestry stewardship of the local forest resource.