A forestry partnership between the province and the Lake Babine Nation was announced today (Thursday) in Burns Lake.
According to the province, this will increase the forest tenure held by the First Nation by more than 2,000 per cent and includes a tenure transfer from West Fraser.
“This is real on-the-ground collaboration that gets things done for Lake Babine Nation, boosts the local economy and delivers for people across B.C.,” said Ravi Parmar, Minister of Forests.
“It’s a powerful partnership – one that secures a steady fibre supply for West Fraser and helps produce world-class, made-in-B.C. wood products.”
The agreement sees the First Nation’s Woodland License grow from about 5,600 hectares to more than 126,000 of their territory.
Included in the licence is northeast of Smithers, near the Lake Babine Nation communities of Fort Babine (Wit’at) and Old Fort around the northern half of Lake Babine.
“As stewards of our lands since time immemorial and still today, Lake Babine Nation has forever recognized the deep responsibility we hold in ensuring our forests are managed with ecological respect and generational sustainability,” said Chief Wilf Adam, Lake Babine Nation.
“I want to congratulate the Lake Babine Nation on what we have been able to build together,” said Sean McLaren, president and CEO, West Fraser.
“This achievement would not have been possible without the leadership and the support of government.”
In 2021, the Province set a goal of 20% of the allowable annual cut being held by First Nations.
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