Background to the Creston Community Forest

The community of Creston has always placed a high priority on its water supply, Arrow Creek. A significant portion of the Creston economy depends on the watershed for abundant, clean water. Consequently, timber harvesting within the drainage has been a contentious issue since the last industrial logging took place in 1972. The community has been very effective in keeping industrial logging out of Arrow Creek since that time. Other adjacent areas are equally sensitive.

History of The Creston Valley Forest Corporation

On January 2, 1996 the government of BC announced that a Forest Licence to harvest 15,000 cubic meters per year would be made available for a Community Forest in Creston.

Following that announcement a group consisting of the following organizations submitted an application for the Forest Licence:

• Town of Creston
• Regional District of Central Kootenay
• Creston Area Economic Development Commission (Creston Development Authority)
• Lower Kootenay Band
• East Kootenay Environmental Society (Wildsight)

This group became the Creston Valley Forest Corporation on June 12, 1997 and was awarded the licence on October 1, 1997. We secured a renewable, area-based Probationary Community Forest Agreement on Oct 14, 2008.

A ten person Board of Directors who represents the five shareholders and the community at large governs the Corporation. Its office is presently located at

The Corporation has two direct employees (general manager &administrative clerk) and contracts all other operational work to local contractors.

The mission statement for the Corporation is: " To efficiently harvest the allocated volumes while protecting the integrity of other resources and enhancing social and economic benefits of the community."

The goals and objectives of the CVFC are:

1. To develop an ecosystem-based, ecologically responsible philosophy of forest stewardship that respects all forest values and functions.
2. To encourage involvement and to inform the public in the management of forest resources.
3. To provide local employment in harvesting, silviculture, forestry and milling sectors.
4. To be financially profitable.
5. To encourage education and training in all aspects of sustainable forestry.
6. To provide the maintenance of water quality, quantity and flow regime of all streams and lakes within the area of Probationary Community Forest Agreement K3D.
7. To use existing local facilities for primary breakdown. Local refers to an area from Yahk to Riondel.
8. To provide a timber supply for existing value-added enterprises and to provide a timber supply as an incentive to promote local, value-added opportunities in the community.
9. To pursue FSC certification on all timber harvested under PCFA K3D.
10. To pursue incremental forestry projects as opportunities occur.
11. To pursue effective, biologically oriented methods dealing with forest health issues.
12. To be proactive with community wildfire/urban interface issues.

• The area includes Arrow Creek, Goat Mountain, Thompson Mountain, Russell Creek and Kitchner Mountain. All highly contentious areas including community watersheds, important views and deer/elk winter range.
• In the past eight operating seasons we have harvested 150,000 m3 of timber (4,300 truckloads).
• The harvesting has been done using silvicultural systems and harvesting methods that are compatible with community values.
• We have built trust in our operations with the community, to where we can now operate in Arrow Creek with community support – not resistance!
• We have paid over $1,000,000 in stumpage fees to the Province.
• Over 75% of our logs have been sold locally or regionally. All high value logs (peelers, premium sawlogs, building logs, etc) have been sold within BC. All our logs are offered first to local manufactures! Only low value species and size classes (known as “guts and feathers”) have been exported to the US!!

• Creation of 15+ jobs during the logging season.
• An average of $1.5 million is put into the Creston economy annually!
• All harvesting is incremental to industrial operations. None of the timber harvested would have been harvested using industrial forestry practices in this sensitive operating area.
• The operation has built trust with the community and now enjoys general community support, even for logging in the watershed!
• Two local mills, Wynndel Box and Lumber and JH Huscroft, have been our largest customers over the years.
• We offer opportunities to encourage other value added businesses through access to a secure log supply.
• We are providing educational opportunities for local high school students and regional college students.