The Cheakamus Community Forest (CCF) released its draft 5-Year Development Plan in May 2023. After hearing from hundreds of Whistler residents who were upset about the inclusion of harvesting blocks above the Cheakamus Lake Road that overlapped with popular mountain bike trails, the CCF decided to remove the C02 a, b and c blocks proposed for harvesting in 2026 from its plans.

The CCF and the Whistler Off Road Cycling Association (WORCA) met on site in July to review and discuss the issues raised by community members. Follow up meetings have taken place over the summer and will continue. WORCA and the CCF have agreed to develop a collaborative, transparent planning process that will share information on a regular basis to reduce conflicts, look for opportunities to cooperate on forest and trail management, and communicate better with the mountain bike community. Discussions continue on the details of that process and other proposed harvesting areas of concern.

“WORCA is pleased to be collaborating with the CCF on creating a strategy aimed at mitigating the potential impacts of forest harvest practices on Whistler’s trail network. We look forward to being a part of the planning process instead of reacting to the process once it’s complete,” said WORCA Trails Administrator, Nicole Koshure.

The CCF is a locally-managed forestry tenure held in partnership by the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Lil’wat Nation and Squamish Nation. Unlike other privately-held forest tenures, forest management decisions are made in the community with input from the community. A Community Forest balances modern and traditional forest management by including cultural, economic, ecological, recreational and community values for the forest.

The release of the draft 5-year development plan provided enough time for the CCF to review the site in more detail, hear concerns and make changes. This collaborative approach illustrates why the Cheakamus Community Forest is the ideal model to manage the forests surrounding Whistler.

Last week, the Pique published a story about an old growth Douglas fir near Loggers Lake that was found to be at least 750 years old. The headline called it ‘spectacular’ and the Cheakamus Community Forest (CCF) whole heartedly agrees! Thanks to the unique aspects of running a Community Forest managed by a non-profit partnership, the CCF protected many areas of old growth fir, cedar, and hemlock over the last decade.

Back in 2015, the CCF identified provincial old growth management areas that are legally protected from harvesting. It found many more areas in the tenure that also deserved protection because of ecological sensitivities, recreational use, or both. The CCF initiated an Integrated Resource Mapping Project where it met with the Squamish Nation, Lil’wat Nation, RMOW, WORCA, AWARE, Alpine Club of Canada, and commercial recreation operators to determine which additional areas should be protected.

From this collaborative approach, the CCF voluntarily agreed to set aside even more forest in what it calls Ecosystem-based Management (EBM) Reserves. At this point, about 50% of the full tenure is off limits to harvesting. Further, the CCF is committed to continuing its moratorium on logging old growth outside of these Reserves. The article didn’t give the Douglas fir’s exact location, but it is protected because of these commitments.

The area around Loggers Lake and Jane Lakes are included in EBM Reserves because of the ecological values and recreational use. Have a look at this map…the orange hatched areas outline all EBM Reserves in the tenure managed by the CCF. The solid orange polygons are other protected areas.

The CCF recognizes that these ecosystems are sensitive and important to our community. Unlike a privately held forest tenure, having a Community Forest allows these kinds of discussions, and decision-making that reflect our community values.

The CCF wants to hear what you think about its harvesting plans and five year development plan.

If you don’t get a chance to talk to Heather at one of the pop-up information booths, you can view the maps here and then take the survey.

You can find the pop-up booths at these locations:

Whistler Public Library – May 15 from 1-4 p.m.
Nesters Market – May 16 from 1-3 p.m.
Meadow Park Sports Centre – May 16 from 4 – 6 p.m.

The survey will be open until May 31, 2023.

The CCF Board engaged Whistler-based Vantage Consulting Group to develop a new strategic plan in 2022. The forest industry has changed since the CCF started in 2009 and its strategic plan needed a refresh. The CCF has always been a leader in sustainable forestry grounded in its Ecosystem-based Management approach as well as being the first community forest to sell carbon offsets in BC. To capture these changes, a new strategic plan was needed. Here’s a teaser…

VISION – The CCF is a model of regenerative forestry that mitigates the impacts of climate change and that the CCF partnership is recognized as a model of reconciliation, supporting the prosperity of the RMOW, Lil’wat and Squamish Nations through a thriving local economy.

Have a read…we think it is inspiring as well as a clear road map.

CCF Strategic Plan 2022