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We’re excited to announce that we’ve been awarded $1 million in grant funding from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC)! This funding, which supports our efforts from 2025 to 2027, will play a vital role in reducing wildfire risk in and around the community of Creston in the Creston Community Forest. This funding is part of the $90 million allocated in 2025 for wildfire-prevention initiatives through BC Wildfire Service, FireSmart initiatives and FESBC.   The grant will fund fuel management treatments and planning for future initiatives, including prescribed burning. We’re grateful for FESBC’s continued support and remain committed to innovation and leadership in sustainable forest management.   Stay tuned for more updates and exciting projects on the horizon!

Please submit comments in writing on the FOM website, via email to infoshare@crestoncf.com CCF K3D CP35 BLKS 14_16 COMMUNITY REFERRAL MAP CCF - K3D CP 35 BLK 14 RUSSELL HP MAP

Help the Creston Museum Become FireSmart at our Open House Saturday, May 3rd. Join us on May 3rd - Wildfire Preparedness Day - by volunteering for the Creston Museum's wildfire mitigation efforts. Tasks include pruning trees, clearing vegetation, and removing fire hazards to make the museum grounds safer. Sign up with the link to our website below. Join us for our Open House & Wildfire Preparedness Day Local Forests, Local Voices – Your Input Matters Open House 2025 Details: Saturday, May 3rd 1:00 – 4:30 pm Creston Museum ​ Learn how we’re working to reduce wildfire risks, strengthen our forests, and protect our community. ​​ Get practical FireSmart tips to safeguard your home, sign up for a free Home Assessment, discover how sustainable forest management plays a role in wildfire prevention, and chat with our team about local forestry issues. For more details about our Open House 2025 and participating partners, click here: https://www.crestoncommunityforest.com/openhouse2025

We are focused on managing our community forest now for future generations. With over 21,000 hectares of land in the Creston Community Forest, we take on the role of forest stewardship with a commitment to education, recreation, and wildfire risk reduction. Our primary objectives are to sustainably manage these community forest, promoting ecosystem resiliency while fostering a thriving timber industry that benefits the entire Creston Community. Managing Our Community Forest for Fut ure Generations Nestled between the Purcell and Selkirk Mountains, w e are a not-for-profit forest corporation managing the Creston Community Forest. Our focus is forest management, education, recreation and community resiliency for future generations. Sign Up for Monthly Newsletter What is a Community Forest? A Community Forest is an area-based forest tenure awarded by government to communities to enhance their local control over forest management. Community forests create local jobs and keep profits within the community. We manage over 21,000 hectares of land with primary objectives to promote a healthy, sustainable community forest ecosystem, while fostering a thriving timber industry that benefits the entire Creston Community. Creating local jobs, supporting industries, and generating revenue that directly benefits our community, our goal is to create a resilient, sustainable forest for our community to enjoy and engage the next generation of stewards who will shape the future of our forests. FOREST MANAGEMENT Committed to managing our community forest for future generations : innovative and sustainable logging, preserving healthy forests, continuous recreational and employment benefits, wildlife habitat enhancement, and wildfire risk reduction. More Info EDUCATION Dedicated to expanding the concepts of a healthy forest: benefits of a healthy ecosystem, innovative techniques used in forestry, biodiversity, wildlife and watersheds, and our need to sustain healthy practices in the forest. More Info RECREATION Creating safe spaces to enhance your hiking experience: bridge development, trailhead kiosk with maps, developed trails, lookout points, maintenance on existing trails, over 35 kilometres of trails and planning for future trails. More Info Sign Up for Monthly Newsletter Latest News Join us at our Open House Saturday, May 3rd. CCF Team Members hosted the Selkirk College Forestry Diploma students You are Invited to our Open House More News & Stories Click HERE STAY IN THE LOOP! Sign up for our newsletter below to stay updated on upcoming trail work, events, and more. Don't miss out on the latest news, opportunities to get involved and join our online community to be the first to know. Creston Community Forest Newsletter sign up link: Yes, I want the Newsletter

The Creston Community Forest envisions healthy forests with social, ecological, and economic benefits. We prioritize non-timber resources and local community input in our harvesting plans to make this vision a reality. Our community forest allows the Creston Valley to guide land-use decisions, respecting local interest and ecological integrity. Who We Are The Creston Community Forest envisions healthy forests with social, ecological, and economic benefits. We prioritize non-timber resources and local community input in our harvesting plans to make this vision a reality. Our community forest allows the Creston Valley to guide land-use decisions, respecting local interest and ecological integrity. Our guiding principles outline our long-term goals: Manage forest resources for long-term community benefit. Operate the community forest as a viable forestry enterprise. Educate the public on the community forest and Creston's forest management. Enhance partnerships with local First Nations. Develop a timber harvesting schedule for the next 5–10 years. These goals guide our planning and decision-making, ensuring we prioritize actions based on community needs and reflect local values and concerns. Resources / Links Guiding Principles Management Plan 2024 - 2029 Forest Stewardship Plan Forest Stewardship Plan Firewood Permit Policy Manual History Creston Community Forest’s history can be traced back to January of 1996, when the B.C. government announced the availability of a Forest Licence to harvest 15,000 cubic metres annually in areas near Creston, including the Arrow Creek watershed. Concerns about water quality led five Creston organizations to apply for the licence. They were granted a 15-year forest licence, forming the Creston Valley Forest Corporation. In October 2008, the Creston Valley Forest Corporation received a Probationary Community Forest Agreement, which later became a 25-year community forest agreement, leading to the formation of the Creston Community Forest. In 2016, the community forest expanded its area and saw an increase in the Allowable Annual Cut, which now stands at 25,000 cubic metres annually. This rich history showcases the power of community collaboration and the dedication of those who strive to balance environmental stewardship with sustainable economic practices. Meet the Team To ensure smooth operations, the community forest has three permanent employees: a Forest Manager, a Planning and Development Supervisor, and a Forest Technician . All other operational work, including logging and tree planting, is contracted to local contractors based in the area. This approach supports local businesses and fosters community involvement in the forest management process. Forest Manager Daniel Gratton, RPF Planning and Development Supervisor Angela French, RFT Forest Technician Erich Endersby, TFT Communications / Marketing Sharlyn Carter The Creston Community Forest is governed by a ten-member Board of Directors. The board consists of five members from the community and one representative from each shareholder. Our shareholders include: Town of Creston Regional District of Central Kootenay Wildsight E rickson Community Association Trails for Creston Valley Society SHAREHOLDER DIRECTORS GITTE GROVER Wildsight JOHN CHIS AM ORE SECRETARY Regional District of Central Kootenay KEITH BALDWIN VICE-CHAIR Town of C reston JACOB EWASHEN Trails for Creston Valle y Societ y BRAD RAE Erickson Community Association COMMUNITY DIRECTORS AT LARGE TOM OLENCZUK CHAIR ANN DEATHERAGE ROBYN USHER JIM ELFORD WAYNE HARRIS Board meetings are held on the last Thursday of every month. Decision-making is determined by consensus (60 per cent) and all communication is recorded in Board Meeting Minutes. STAY IN THE LOOP! Sign up for our newsletter below to stay updated on upcoming trail work, events, and more. Don't miss out on the latest news, opportunities to get involved and join our online community to be the first to know. Creston Community Forest Newsletter sign up link: Yes, I want the Newsletter

Firewood cutting for personal use in the Creston Community Forest is permitted only under these specific conditions: Firewood Information We are a not-for-profit forest company who log to mitigate fires, keep our forest healthy and contribute funds back into the community of Creston. First Steps for Firewood Moving firewood can spread invasive species and diseases such as the Douglas-fir beetle which is the most prevalent concern in our area. B.C.'s forests are threatened by insects that can damage trees. "The issues BC and Alberta are facing is that the winters are not cold enough, long enough to kill the insects and so the populations are increasing, along with trees being more stressed out with drought and more impact from more beetles, we’re experiencing more [forest] mortality," says our Forest Planning and Development Supervisor, Angela French. Moving firewood from one area to another increases the risk of spreading disease, funghi and pests. Firewood cutting for personal use in the Creston Community Forest is permitted only under these specific conditions: 01 Permission Personal permission is granted from our Forest Manager, Daniel Gratton, before cutting a tree within our Creston Community Forest area-based tenure. Contact information is listed below in image and in our 'Contact Us' section in footer of page or menu tab. 02 Free Permit Annually, make sure to read, understand, fill out, sign, carry and follow your free permit at all times while cutting or transporting firewood: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry/natural-resource-use/firewood-permits/selkirk_free_use_permit.pdf 03 Personal Firewood Firewood cut in CCF is for personal use only and not being sold. See permit for allowable amount per person. The Permittee accepts all responsibility and liability as a result of the firewood harvesting and transport under this Permit. Creston Community Forest accepts no liability for loss, damage to property, personal injury or death resulting from activities undertaken by the Permittee in harvesting firewood or in travel to and from the Permit area. Photo: a visual example from our list of Don'ts Firewood Do's Do: Work and fall safely, preferably not alone. Falling is risky business without the proper skill, knowledge, and safety gear. Only dead or downed trees may be cut for firewood, though often these trees and logs are retained for structural diversity purposes and are a part of the larger ecosystem resilience lens that we manage the forest through. Leave decaying wood in place as they add to ecosystem function by providing biodiversity in structure, and nutrient cycling. Prevent the spread of insects, disease, and other pathogens by being educated about what may have caused the trees mortality, and possible risks of bringing the pathogens to your property. Do: Do: Do: Firewood Dont's Cut any tree that has wildlife habitat characteristics as identified on the permit, or “WT” for Wildlife Tree, painted on it. These have been retained for the specific values and features they provide for wildlife in the area. Cut any trees within a Wildlife Tree Patch. These areas are legally retained areas of the tenure that have special features important to be maintained for ecosystem biodiversity. Cut green trees for access. Green trees are actively managed with long-term, sustainable practices in mind. The reasons are specific to the site. For more information contact CCF forestry staff. Leave garbage in the forest. These areas are homes to wildlife, are in our backyards, and are not a dumping ground for anyone. Drive through the ditch line into a treatment area. Ditch lines are designed for managing water movement in specific areas. Degrading the shape, direction, of filling with woody material prevents the flow of water and could cause damage to the access structures (roads) and watersheds by contributing to increased sedimentation in drinking water. Cut trees in an active treatment area. Trees under active cutting permits have specific plans that need to be followed by the hired contractor. Cutting trees that are not meant to be cut can cause deviations from plans and operations that prevent our management objectives from being achieved. Do not: Do not: Do not: Do not: Do not: Do not: If you’re unsure where not to go, contact the office for more information. If purchasing firewood, ask where it came from to help keep firewood poachers accountable. Let’s work together to ensure our forests are safely and sustainably managed for the future of our community. Do Not Live Cedar Cut STAY IN THE LOOP! Sign up for our newsletter below to stay updated on upcoming trail work, events, and more. Don't miss out on the latest news, opportunities to get involved and join our online community to be the first to know. Creston Community Forest Newsletter sign up link: Yes, I want the Newsletter