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Creston Valley Forest Corporation Backgrounder

Background to the Creston Community Forest

Single tree selectionThe 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:

This group became the Creston Valley Forest Corporation on June 12, 1997 and was awarded the licence on October 1, 1997.

A ten person Board of Directors which represents the five shareholders and the community at large governs the Corporation. Its office is presently located at 218 Pine Street in Creston. The Corporation has only two direct employees, Pernita Armstrong (administrative clerk), and Dan Murphy (our business manager) who contracts the operational work to local forestry contractors.

The Board of Directors
Name Representing Profession
Directors Appointed by Shareholder Group
Joe Snopek Town of Creston Mayor
Curtis Wullum Lower Kootenay Indian Band Forestry Consultant
Albert Brunham Regional District of Central Kootenay College instructor
Laura Strom Creston Development Authority Specialty Mill Owner
Ralph Moore Wildsight Woodlot owner
Elected by Shareholder Directors from Community
Elvin Masuch Community Director Retired farmer
Don Root Community Director Consulting Engineer
Gary Sommerfeld Community Director Mechanic
Merv Syroteuk Community Director (EID) Retired National Park Superintendent
John Chisamore Community DirectorRetired teacher
Administrative Staff
Daniel GrattonBusiness manager and forester 
Pernita ArmstrongAdministrative Clerk 
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:

See also our statement in our application for Community Forest Probationary Agreement

  1. To develop an ecosystem-based, ecologically responsible philosophy of forest
  2. stewardship that respects all forest values and functions.
  3. To encourage involvement and to inform the public in the management of forest resources.
  4. To provide local employment in harvesting, silviculture, forestry and milling sectors.
  5. To develop a local log market and examine the feasibility of a log sort yard.
  6. To encourage education and training in all aspects of sustainable forestry.
  7. To provide the maintenance of water quality, quantity and flow regime of all streams and lakes within the operating area of FL A54214.
  8. To use existing local facilities for primary breakdown. Local refers to an area from Yahk to Riondel.
  9. 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 thecommunity.
  10. To pursue "Green" (FSC) certification on all timber harvested under FL A54214.
  11. To pursue incremental forestry projects as opportunities occur.
  12. To pursue effective, biologically oriented methods dealing with forest health issues.

Operations to date

Benefits of CVFC