Just another one of the many fun things we get to do at the community forest. We spent part of Friday morning collecting trees boughs to help decorate Santa's sleigh for Creston's Christmas parade. Here we see a mix of cedar, Douglas-fir, hemlock and grand fir boughs.

Although hiking has drawn to a close on our trails, our gratitude to all our outdoor enthusiasts continues. We enjoy reading all the comments.

A great photo of the BC Community Forest Association (BCCFA) board of directors on the steps of the legislature in Victoria last Tuesday, prior to their meeting with the Forest Minister, Bruce Ralston. Our Forest Manager, Daniel Gratton seen in the photo, has served on the BCCFA since 2018. Over the course of two and a half days the board members attended meetings with the BC Wildfire Service, the Forest Tenures Branch, the Forest Minister and many other government staff to discuss the important work that Community Forests are providing. One critical topic included the wildfire risk reduction projects that Community Forests have been developing in their respective communities and who have been instrumental in providing this incredibly important work.

If you are looking for a local winter hike, look no farther than Billy Goat Bluffs trail. The trail is still accessible and typically snow free from the beautiful cover of a Douglas-fir canopy. An easy access trail head is a short drive past Tim Hortons and located behind the Town of Creston Public Works Yard on Helen Street. To read more about the history of the trail, a few quick facts about the elevation, duration, directions and distance, click here: https://www.crestoncommunityforest.com/billy-goat-bluffs If you hit the trail, be sure to tag us in your photos! We may just see you out there snapping a few winter scenes.

Here's what we are reading this week. Grab a coffee and read an interesting yet alarming analytical projection for the Forest Industry. Feel free to share it with those in the industry. B.C. forestry industry is dealing with death by a thousand cuts. By 2035, the sector could be less than half the size it was in 2005, according to analysts. By Nelson Bennett | October 31, 2023, 3:30pm "In 2022, B.C. metallurgical coal exports totaled $11.9 billion, followed by natural gas at $7.7 billion and lumber in third place at $7.3 billion, according to BC Stats. That is a reflection of both of higher prices for coal and natural gas, and lower lumber prices and falling production. ... And if projections made by forest sector analysts David Elstone and Jim Girvan prove right, B.C.’s forestry industry will be much smaller a decade from now. The industry’s decline has a lot to do with the Mountain pine beetle epidemic. It has created a timber famine, but first it created a feast......" Link to full article here: https://biv.com/article/2023/10/bc-forestry-industry-dealing-death-thousand-cuts

Creston Community Forest (CCF) staff recently hosted a field trip for Grade 11 and 12 students studying Environmental Science. Despite getting caught in the rain on one of our field days, students learned about the CCF's wildfire risk reduction program, the reintroduction of cultural burning, types of forest health trees can face and how Light Detection and Ranging (also known as LiDAR) is used in forestry applications. Pictured in CCF's Canyon block is Mr. Erich Meyer's class.

NEW to our trails and perfect for the summer. Use it with the kids to create a fun scavenger hunt or keep one in your backpack for easy reading on the trails. The Creston Community Forest is very pleased to provide a pocket sized Plant ID Book to help hikers and nature enthusiasts identify trees, shrubs and wildflowers that are found in the Creston Valley. These booklets can be found at all of our kiosks/trailheads and are free to keep. Happy hiking!!!

Public Notification: Firewood Cutting Do’s and Don’ts The CCF has been experiencing illegal firewood cutting over the past couple of weeks, specifically in the Big Bear Brook wildfire risk reduction treatment area. Let’s work together to ensure these forested areas are safely and sustainably managed for the future of our community. Here are some helpful tips to brush up on when cutting firewood for personal use in the CCF: Do: 1. Request PERMISSION from the Forest Manager, Daniel Gratton of the Creston Community Forest, before cutting a tree within this area-based tenure by email at: dgratton@crestoncf.com 2. On an annual basis read, understand, fill out, sign and carry this free permit at all times while cutting or transporting firewood after you received permission from our Forest Manager, Daniel Gratton: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/.../selkirk_free_use_permit.pdf 3. Do work safely, preferably in pairs. 4. Only dead or downed trees may be cut for firewood. 5. Do leave decaying wood in place, they add to ecosystem function. 6. If purchasing firewood, ask where it came from to help keep firewood poachers accountable. 7. Do prevent the spread of insects, fungi, and other pathogens. Do Not: 1. Do not cut any tree that has wildlife habitat characteristics as identified on the permit, or “WT” for Wildlife Tree, painted on it. 2. Do not cut green trees for access. 3. Do not leave garbage in the forest. 4. Do not drive through the ditchline into a treatment area. 5. Do not cut trees in an active treatment area.

We would like to welcome Angela French to our team! She is the new Forest Planning and Development Supervisor for the Creston Community Forest. She started her career in forestry in the West Kootenays in 2013 after deciding to leave her home town of Langley, where she received her Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of the Fraser Valley. Over the past decade she experienced a diversity of roles and functions, including forest development, planning, silviculture, community engagement, and most recently in wildfire mitigation and community resilience. She worked in a variety of organizations including consultancy, a privately owned veneer mill, provincial government and local government. Since her time in the forestry program at Selkirk College in Castlegar, community forestry has been a passion of hers. To be able to be a part of managing a forest based on the values that stem from the community itself, though these values can sometimes be competing, provides so much purpose to what she does. With the goal of working with the community to try to find positive solutions as an essential objective, she is looking forward to building connections and working to continue to manage the community forest from a community-centric perspective. She resides in what is now known as Salmo on a small sustainable commercial vegetable farm with her partner and several fur-kids. In her spare time, she does as much horseback riding as possible, camping, hiking, and music festivals. She enjoys traveling and experiencing diverse cultures and perspectives. A big welcome to Angela. We are thrilled to have her as part of the team and the community.

With almost 100 local elementary students along with their teachers, we are thrilled to share a glimpse into our most successful National Forest Week celebration held on September 21st. Students were immersed in the wonders of local biodiversity, painted tree 'cookies,' learned about BC wild life, received hands on experience with fire suppression, logging equipment, compassing through the woods, and how using a drone can help forest professionals. The success of the day couldn't have happened without the dedication and enthusiasm of each participating industry member and their stations. We would like to thank Canfor for the compass skills and drone example, BC Wildfire Services - Initial Attack Crew for the interactive fire call setting, Rick and Jessie Polzin for the explanation or hands on opportunity with some of the equipment needed in forestry, JH Huscroft for the silviculture workshop and painting of tree 'cookies' and also WildSafe BC for the workshop of local wildlife. Throughout the day we heard laughter, questions, and examples of the students' favorite aspect of the field trip. But we must also share what we learned from our National Forest Week field trip: our future is bright with the younger generation in Forestry. What a wonderful day we all had.

A special shout out to the Community Forest's contractors. Without their care and dedication, we wouldn't have the quality of logging and all the other projects that take place throughout the Creston Valley. They are the heart of the company working with community forest staff to make it all come together. (Above photo: Load of logs leaving for Huscroft mill.) Our processor operator Jessie and his "supervisor", Oliver. Our logging contractor Rick working on a partial cut in Arrow Creek. Wildfire risk reduction crew working near Kitchener. Alongside the wildfire risk reduction crew working near Kitchener, our mulcher contractor treating an area on either side of the Big Bear Creek Forest Service Road.

Angela French (Forest Planning and Development Supervisor) and Daniel Gratton (Forest Manager) carried out an aerial survey of the forest health affecting areas of the community forest. Over the past three years, Douglas-fir beetle has become much more active and the community forest team will be looking at measures to mitigate its impact. This forest pest is visible on Goat Mountain and is also affecting Douglas-fir stands throughout the Kootenays. The forest stands in the head waters of the Arrow Creek watershed have a low level of forest health concerns, which was great to see.