BUSY YEAR | Regional District of North Okanagan has a full agenda for 2014 [A6]
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Sunday, January 5, 2014
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TREE TOSS
LISA VANDERVELDE/ MORNING STAR
Chris Mihalcheon unstraps his Christmas tree from his car before throwing it on the pile at the tree drop-off at 20th Street and 47th Avenue. Residents of Vernon, Coldstream and the BX can dispose of their Christmas tree at the site next to St. John Ambulance until Jan. 19.
Cherryville opposes harvesting plan a 6.5-kilometre road to allow for harvesting. “We’re quite concerned. If it’s going to be Cherryville residents fear they may lose logged, it needs to be done selectively,” said access to an area they deem senFoisy, adding that he is opposed sitive environmentally and ecoto clearcuts in the Cherry Creek nomically. watershed. B.C. Timber Sales, a governThe Cherry Ridge Management ment agency, is currently seekCommittee administers the coming input on possibly allowing 209 munity forest and has been dishectares in the North Fork area to cussing an expansion with MLA be sold off for timber harvesting. Eric Foster. “We’ve been working on As a result, the prospect of the expanding the community forTSA going to auction came as a Eugene Foisy est into this area,” said Eugene surprise. Foisy, Cherryville’s regional dis“The referral came on trict director. Christmas Eve,” said Hank Cameron, manIf the process proceeds, the 209 hectares agement committee president. could include eight new cutblocks, as well as The community forest covers 1,500 cubic RICHARD ROLKE
Morning Star Staff
metres of timber that is selectively logged. “They (private companies) take all of the easy high-value timber whereas if we manage it, we have a lower footprint,” said Cameron, adding that the land identified by the BCTS has specific issues to consider. “There is a history of (soil) instability and it’s above private land.” The BCTS wants input on its proposal by Jan. 31 and Cameron anticipates many Cherryville residents will have something to say. “There definitely will be outrage,” he said. According to the Ministry of Forests, the North Fork area is managed under a forest stewardship plan as part of BCTS’s longterm sustainable timber harvesting plans. “Prior to putting timber up for auction,
BCTS conducts extensive review of each project with a particular focus on limiting potential environmental impacts,” says the ministry in a statement. “Regarding the area, BCTS is just in the planning stages and is willing to meet to address any concerns or proposals. No timber sale licences have yet been put up for auction.” Foster is monitoring the Cherryville situation closely. “I will be touching base with the ministry and I appreciate the concerns of the Cherry Ridge Management Committee,” he said. “I supported the committee’s plan to expand the community forest because it’s done an excellent job of managing the community forest.”
Wishing you much success in 2014! www.TheRightAgents.com