The BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA) hosted their annual conference and AGM in Nanaimo on May 26-28th.
Day 1 was hosted by the Khowutzun Community Forest on their forest land base. The day started with a prayer and a welcoming dance from the Cowichan Tribes. In the field, they showed us some of their commercial thinning operations, and examples of medicinal and edible plants on the land base. They also had cedar weaving examples and explained the uses and significance. After, everyone toured the BC Forest Discovery Centre.
Day 2 was at the Nanaimo Conference Centre where there were many engaging panels and sessions about; community forestry on Vancouver Island, Political Risk and Preparing for Uncertain Times, Forestry Rooted in Reciprocity. And, breakout sessions on forest policy, silviculture, misinformation, forest landscape plans, fibre utilization, and prescribed fire.
Day 3 was the BCCFA AGM, a workshop on Practical Engagement Tools, and then a group conversation and research discussion on wildfire risk reduction fuel treatment efficacy from the UBC Centre for Wildfire Coexistence. UBC, the BCCFA, BC Wildfire Service, the First Nations Emergency Services Society, and the Silviculture Innovation Program all collaborated to create an educational resource about wildfire risk reduction treatment.
See the “Fuel for Thought” explainer here.
Thank you to the BCCFA for another fantastic conference!
