Mission Statement
The Kaslo and District Community Forest Society (KDCFS) will manage the diversity of values of the Community Forest in an ecologically responsible and fiscally accountable manner on behalf of the people of Kaslo and Area D.
A. Woodlands
Sunshine Logging Road Upgrades
Sunshine Logging road updates are complete. Next, KDCFS will assist the Powder Bound Ski Club with repairs to several log bridges.
CP 47-1 – Branch 7
Timber Ridge has moved equipment up Branch 7 and completed grading. Harvesting started in September and the bunching is complete. The wood will be skidded, processed and shipped over the next few weeks. The block is mostly hemlock with some larch, Douglas fir, spruce and cedar mixed in.
While log prices remain low, Kalesnikoff is still accepting wood.
Current prices:
- Hemlock (Hw): $85/m³
- Douglas-fir / Larch / Spruce (Fd/Lw/Sx): $135/m³
- Cedar (Cw): $190/m³
- Pulp: $53/m³
This is a pulp-heavy project. Although Mercer did not secure the FESBC incremental haul top-up grant, we successfully obtained $21/m³ through FESSBC, bringing pulp revenue to a roughly break-even level for harvesting and hauling.
Timber Development
Development continues in Lost Ledge, with approximately 23,000 m³ being developed across four conventional blocks. Species profile: Hw6 Lw3 Cw1 (SxFd).
After this project, focus will shift to Cooper Face, with a goal of developing 20,000–25,000 m³.
KDCFS’s standing timber inventory (STI) remains low, and with extended permitting timelines, advancing timber development and early permit applications are key priorities.
Firewood Donations
KDCFS will produce firewood this fall, with three loads donated to local organizations for fundraising.
Announcements will be made in the Valley Voice, on the KDCFS website, and through social media.
Trail Coordination
A field tour was held with members of the mountain bike trail crew in CP 56 (behind the airstrip) to discuss trails and harvesting plans.
Reforestation – Briggs Creek Fire
Rhino Reforestation is conducting heli tree planting on the Briggs Creek fire site.
Planting locations include the slopes between:
- Deer and Ben Hur Creeks, and
- Ben Hur and Briggs Creek.
B. Safety
No safety incidents have been reported from road work, silviculture surveys, or timber development activities.
C. Silviculture
Craig is carrying out silviculture surveys across the license area, including regeneration checks, free-to-grow assessments, and block walkthroughs to plan stand management treatments.
RESULTS reporting and waste survey planning for 2024 and 2025 harvest areas are underway.
Across several cutblocks, about 10 sph of Lw were affected by snow press. In one Buchanan block, bear activity has caused localized stem damage due to bark feeding, though the impact remains limited.
D. Wildfire Risk Reduction
No additional WRR projects are currently underway, but KDCFS has applied for the CP 55 (Lardeau) cutting permit so operations can begin this fall. A potential Ministry of Forests strike could affect the permitting timeline.
A field tour was held in Lardeau on September 12 to discuss the project and address community questions. Concerns included:
- Visual impacts from Argenta and Highway 31
- Prevailing south winds potentially driving fire up the lake
- Tree fall hazards on powerlines
The project aims to remove hazard trees near powerlines and reduce fuel density to lower potential wildfire behaviour. A follow-up field tour will be held during operations.
The BCCFA has recently hired three regional managers to assist with WRR initiatives across Community Forest Agreements. Their roles include:
- Supporting CFAs in accessing funding opportunities
- Advocating for increased WRR funding
- Identifying policy barriers to implementing treatments effectively
August 2025 General Board Meeting Update