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From YouTube: NOVEMBER 2 2021 Statements Ben Stewart
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
2nd Session
42nd Parliament
A
Member
for
kelowna
west-
no
thank
you.
I
was
just
getting
primed
up,
mr
speaker.
Since
2004
west
bank
first
nation
has
thoughtfully
and
effectively
managed
their
community
forest.
What
started
as
a
five-year
arrangement
under
the
community
forest
pilot
agreement
has
grown
to
a
25-year
renewable
community
forest
agreement
license
their
work
on
the
land
is
a
balance
of
forestry
management
and
harvesting,
along
with
maintaining
the
forest
for
traditional
uses,
including
hunting,
trapping
food
gathering
and
spiritual
use,
split
into
two
parcels.
A
They
manage
more
than
46
000
hectares
of
forest
in
the
kelowna
area
and
have
set
a
great
example
of
what
community
forest
can
look
like.
But
it's
not
just
me
that
thinks
this,
mr
speaker.
In
fact,
this
year,
west
bank
first
nation
was
awarded
the
robin
hood
memorial
award,
which
recognizes
excellence
in
community
forests
around
the
province
of
the
50
that
are
in
existence.
A
Specifically,
this
is
meant
to
honor
community
forests,
who
have
been
exemplary
in
their
progressive
forestry
practices,
environmental
stewardship,
community
benefits
and
employment.
However,
this
year,
west
bank
first
nation
was
especially
recognized
for
its
leadership
in
wildfire
risk
reduction,
which
included
taking
the
lead
on
developing
and
planning
a
community
force,
wildfire
risk
management
strategy,
part
of
which
can
comprised
of
a
10
kilometer
buffer
zone.
One
of
two
community
forests
selected
to
win
this
award
this
year
out
of
more
than
50
community
forests
in
bc.
A
They
also
received
a
ten
thousand
dollar
grant
to
continue
their
work
and
further
invest
in
their
forest.
It's
a
huge
honor
for
dave,
gill,
the
west
bank,
first
nation
community
forest
manager,
chief
chris
derrickson,
his
council
and
the
for
everyone
involved
in
the
management
of
the
force
are
incredibly
proud
and
grateful
for
this
recognition.
I
hope
everyone
in
this
house
will
join
me
in
recognizing
the
work
of
west
bank
first
nation
on
this
project
and
congratulating
them
on
a
well-deserved
honor.