CVFC PCFA Application - Management Plan

1.0 Statement of Goals and Guiding Principles

1.1 Mission Statement

1.2 Guiding principles

CVFC is committed the philosophy of ecosystem based management (EBM) in its stewardship of the forest. The BC Coastal Information Team has defined EBM as …an adaptive approach to managing human activities that seeks to ensure the coexistence of healthy, fully functioning ecosystems and human communities. The intent is to maintain those spatial and temporal characteristics of ecosystems such that component species and ecological processes can be sustained, and human wellbeing supported and improved.

Principles of CVFC EBM include:

• Sustainability - a focus on long-term sustainability rather than short-term products.
• Precaution - when (on the basis of available evidence) an activity may harm human health or the environment, a cautious approach should be taken in advance - even if the full extent of harm has not yet been fully established scientifically. It recognizes that such proof of harm may never be possible, at least until it is too late to avoid or reverse the damage done.
• Complexity and Connectedness - biological diversity and complexity strengthen ecosystems against catastrophic disturbance and provide the resources required to adapt to long-term change.
• Humans as Components of the Ecosystem - Recognition of human culture as a subset of the ecosystem and its role in achieving sustainable stewardship goals.
• Goals - establish measurable goals that specify future conditions and processes.
• Retention - a focus on what to retain as opposed to what to take in order to meet goals and objectives.
• Adaptive management - recognition that current knowledge is provisional and subject to change. Monitor results and adapt to meet sustainable goals.

1.3 Goals and Objectives

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 encourage education and training in all aspects of sustainable forestry.
5. To provide the maintenance of water quality, quantity and flow regime of all streams and lakes within the agreement area.
6. To use existing local facilities for primary breakdown as a priority. Local refers to an area from Yahk to Riondel.
7. 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.
8. To pursue FSC certification on all timber harvested under the PCFA.
9. To pursue incremental forestry projects as opportunities occur.
10. To pursue effective, biologically oriented methods dealing with forest health issues.
11. To be proactive with community urban/wildfire interface issues.
12. To run a profitable business.

This summary drafted by our forestry consultant, Jim Smith RPF