Alkali Resource Management looks to secure First Nations Woodlands Licence

For the last six years the community of Esket (Alkali Lake) 45 minutes south of Williams Lake has been building capacity to manage the land. “It’s our number one focus,” said Gord Chipman, the forester who manages Alkali Resource Management (ARM). In 2001 Esket was awarded the second community forest in the province and this coming March will see it renewed for another 25 years. “In the community forest we manage 30,000 hectares,” Chipman said. “Half of it is mule deer winter range which from a harvesting and silviculture perspective has lots of restrictions.” Currently ARM is working on creating another tenure in the form of a First Nations Woodlands Licence which would give the band an additional 60,000 hectares.

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