Lumby Community Forest Gets Approval

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM Wednesday, 12 June 2013 17:00 
 Logging could start this summer in the Monashee Community Forest that the village of Lumby and Splatsin First Nation have got approval to run. Lumby's finance director Ken Klassen says the 25 year deal with the province gives them control over harvesting 21,595 cubic meters of timber each year in the CF area. "Which is basically Trinity Valley up to Putnam Creek (borders the village and Silver Star Provincial Park). There is a potential to make money because we will be harvesting trees and selling them on the open market," says Klassen. Klassen says any profits will be split with the partners, and used to create local employment in the forest industry. He says the 21,595 cubic meters is the equivalent of 400 logging truck loads. RDNO director Rick Fairbairn represents the public at large on the managing committee. "Various permits have been issued and we could see some activity starting as early as July," Fairbairn tells Kiss FM. Fairbairn says he's excited by the deal. "Forestry is one of the main economic drivers in the North Okanagan, and this is a win-win for everybody." The village first started efforts to establish a community forest in the 1990's. The Community Forest will be a partnership between the Village of Lumby and Yucwmenlúcwu (Caretakers of the Land), Splatsin's forest management company. It will be managed by a committee consisting of Lumby Mayor Kevin Acton, Ken Klassen from the village office, Reno Lee and Lawrence Williams from Splatsin and Rick Fairbairn, from the community at large.