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Reference: 214602
JUN 0 1

2015

His'Worship Mayor Mark McKee


City of Revelstoke
P.O. Box 170
Revelstoke, British Columbia
VOE 2SO
Dear Mayor McKee:

Thank you for your letter of April 15,2015, requesting increased public consultation with
respect to forestry planning and management of the Mount Macphersonarea near Revelstoke.
I appreciate the continued engagement and support from the City of Revelstoke on this
important matter.
The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations (FLNR), BC Timber Sales
(BCTS) and the forest industry are govemed by standards for forest management that includes
public consultation as required under the Forest and Range Practices Act. ln addition, BCTS
and forest licensees are bound by an approved Forest Stewardship Plan and these plans
require a public consultation process. Proposed harvesting plans are also referred to affected
parties such as local government, other licenced resource users, recreation groups, landowners
and First Nations. Qualified professionals who are governed by professional licencing bodies
must also complete harvsting plans and assessments.

Public consultation is important to ensure communication and understanding of the important


role that British Columbia's forests play in the economy while also providing critical values
such as water, wildlife, recreation and other beneflrts that we all depend upon.

I appreciate that the City of Revelstoke

has been, and continues to be, a strong supporter and


advocate for the forest sector and that local forest licensees, BCTS and the woodlot owner
have been managing the area well. I am very pleased with the excellent recreation
opportunities that have been developed in the Mount Macpherson area, and I recognize the
importance of recreation and tourism to the community. The Mount Macpherson area is an
excellent example of how BCTS has successfully demonstrated that timber harvesting can
occur in sensitive and high public use areas and that other important values, including
recreation, can mutually co-exist on the forest land base.

The Revelstoke area has successfully completed an extensive land-use planning process,
which has resulted in an approved consensus based, land-use plan (Revelstoke Higher Level
Plan Order) that specifies govemment objectives for forest resource values. Part of this plan
Page
Ministry of Forests, Lands and
Natual Resource Operations

Office of the Ministe

Mailing Address:
PO BOX 9049 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, BC V8W 9E2

Telephone:
Fax
Website:

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Qso) 387-6240
Qso) 387-1040

www.gov.bc.ca/for

His Worship Mayor Mark McKee


included FLNR approval to form the Revelstoke Minister's Advisory Committee (RMAC) to
assist with developing strategies and recommendations for the land-use plan. Local citizens
were selected to serve on the RMAC by Revelstoke City Council and the Columbia Shuswap
Regional District (CSRD) Regional Directors for Areas B and E. FNLR accepted the work of
the RMAC, including recommendations on resource values, including timber harvesting and
recreation. Some elements of the plan became legal objectives in 2005. BCTS and other
forest licence operations must be consistent with the approved higher-level plan.

This ministry, through the CSRD office, BCTS and the Recreation Sites and Trails BC
program have had a long history of managing the Mount Macpherson area for both timber
harvesting and recreation dating back to the 1970's. FLNR has been an integral part of
developing and funding the recreation trail network, including much of the associated
infrastructure. At the same time, by working together, BCTS has also been successful in
conducting timber-harvesting operations while maintaining and enhancing recreationai
opporhrnities. The most recent BCTS timber harvest in the Mornt Macpherson trail network
was successfully completed in 2008. I also acknowledge the community volunteers that
dedicate their time and effort on the trail network, and I am very pleased that so many people
enjoy the recreation trails.
As part of the planning process, BCTS has been actively meeting with the Revelstoke Cycling
Association;the Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club; the City of Revelstoke; CSRD and others.
BCTS provided a community presentation at the Revelstoke Community Center on
January 13,2015, and a two-day open house on March l1 and 12,2015, at the local FLNR
office. BCTS has included a representative from the City of Revelstoke in stakeholder
meetings to ensure the community and non-tenured parties are an integral part of the planning
process. BCTS remains committed to preparing harvest plans that continue to incorporate the
important values and concems they have heard from the community and other stakeholders. I
am confident that BCTS will continue to demonstrate that timber harvesting, recreation and
other values can be successfully integrated in the working forest for the benefTt of all British
Columbians.

BCTS will continue the important dialogue with the community and stakeholders in preparing
and adapting harvest plans for the Mount Macpherson area. When the proposed plan is
revised, BCTS staff will arrange a meeting with the City of Revelstoke to review the plan and
receive further input and comment. I am confident that by working together we can continue
the success at Mount Macpherson.
Please contact Jeff Fukumoto, Timber Sales Manager, Okanagan-Columbia Business Area,
BC Timber Sales, by phone at250 558-1706 or by email at Jeff.Fukumoto@gov.bc.ca, if you
wish to further discuss this important matter.

Sincerely,

t
Steve Thomson

Minister
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His Worship Mayor Mark McKee

pc

Mike Falkiner, Executive Director, BC Timber Sales


Jeff Fukumoto, Timber Sales Manager, Okanagan-Columbia Business Area

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