The Logan Lake Community Forest Corporation are the recipients of the Robin Hood Memorial Award for Excellence in Community, along with a $10,000 grant from the province.
It’s because of the number of ways the community forest finds way to diversify the economy and improve stewardship practices, which benefiting area residents.
Community Forest President Claire Newman says the award is great recognition for the community.
“We have worked very hard to become recognized not only as Canada’s first FireSmart community but our fire mitigation work, our policy control and our community, we always love to give back to our community,” she said.
“From this award, there is an indicators report that is put out through the BC CFA. They have markers that they judge each community forest on. They kind of compare us to all other community forests. We were runners up last year, so this year to take it was wonderful.”
Since inception, about 260,000 cubic metres of fibre has been harvested under the community forest’s tenure, and more than $3 million has gone back into the District of Logan Lake.
And Newman says a decision on what to do with the $10,000 grant will go before the board.
“We were just awarded out $3,000 in bursaries to local students in Logan Lake at our grad ceremonies,” added Newman. “This will definitely replenish that but yeah, we have some discussions going forward on that, but it just means we put ourselves on a high standard and I expect that our board and our managers and our community are going to stay right where we are.”
The Robin Hood Memorial Award was established in 2016, and it’s given our annually to the community forest that best exemplifies the values exhibited by the late Robin Hood – a B.C. community forest pioneer – and the B.C. community forest program.
According to the province, those values include innovation and leadership in land management, building and maintaining social license and involvement with the local community and First Nations, and providing social, economic, cultural and environmental benefits to the local community and First Nations.
(Photo via BC government)
