The new “Weberville Community Model Forest” is located north of Peace River and covers approximately 33,000 hectares of both privately owned and white zone crown land. It is managed by the Weberville Community Forest Association (WCFA). What started in 2008 as a simple idea and pilot project, dubbed the Weberville Community Forest Project, the WCFA advanced a community-driven, landscape-level private land forest management approach that sought to enhance economical and social benefits as well as sustainable forest management practices through landowner collaboration. The project quickly gained attention and interest from various stakeholders from industry, government, municipalities and NGOs that shared a common vision for the sustainable management of the local area.
As an official member of the CMFN, the WCFA can now reach out even further to promote this idea and champion the creation of a community forest network throughout Alberta and beyond. Juri N. Agapow (RFP) is its inaugural President and states: “Becoming a member of the highly regarded CMFN will provide the validation, recognition and the opportunity to network with other forest stewardship groups which will allow the project to continue its current programs and to explore new initiatives.”
Daniel Ryan, President of the CMFN, stated: “The Canadian Model Forest Network is proud to welcome the Weberville Community Forest as our latest member. Acceptance of their membership request is both a tribute to the work we are doing, and demonstrates that we are leaders in promoting and demonstrating sustainable forest management and processes both nationally and internationally. The CMFN will be welcoming other new members in the next year as we continue our strategy of membership marketing in tandem with increasing our benefits and capacity to develop tools to enhance the development of those regional members. An expanded membership strengthens and endorses our leadership role as a national network.”Upcoming projects will see continued private land inventories, more tree planting opportunities, further recreational trail development, and greater educational opportunities and more. Lisa Ladd of Peace River, WCFA’s former treasurer and secretary, has accepted the role of the General Manager. In addition to the WCFA, the Weberville Community Forest Project was initiated by FPInnovations-Feric Division (now FPInnovations Forest Operations Division) and Alberta Agriculture’s Woodlot Extension Program (now Agro-forestry Woodlot Extension Society).
More details on the Weberville Community Forest can be seen here
