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Happy Holidays From The PFLA
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The PFLA board and staff
extend our thanks for your support throughout the year. We wish you a joyous holiday season and the best to you in the coming year.
Megan Hanacek, CEO PFLA
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PFLA Member Profile - Jon Spalding
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I
t takes a family to manage a forest
Jon Spalding's private managed forest land on Pender Island has been in his family since 1878. And like his father, grandfather and great grandfather before him, he's taken a patient approach to understanding what it takes to keep a forest healthy.
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Jon's father David, and his dog Jessie |
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The first record of logging on the Gulf Island property was by Jon's great grandfather, Arthur Spalding, in 1915. Jon talks with pride about the property's stand of healthy, mostly fir trees, that today, looks like a park. Local residents frequently ask (and occasionally forget to ask), about hiking, mountain biking or bird watching on the property.
After all, not every property on Pender Island is as productive as Jon's. "There are a lot of spots that are rocky with variable drainage," said Jon. "They're wind exposed and so forth. Trees don't grow there. I think for me, the biggest satisfaction is seeing this land carry on as forest land, instead of being developed as a bunch of residences or something".
Jon comes from a long line of forest managers who figured it out as they went. Jon's father, David Spalding, was a wildlife biologist. He leaned on professional foresters to help set up the forest management plans and provide him with guidelines on the silvicultural cycle for the property.
"My dad took a real 'earn while you learn' approach, which ultimately involved a small logging and saw milling operation that supplied the local market." said Jon.
"Dad was always passionate about protecting wildlife values on the property," said Jon. "One of his pet projects was studying a little-known snake that is not widespread, but there are some on Pender Island. So he studied them and worked on habitat enhancement for the snake. We've always tried to look at the big picture in how we manage the land."
Jon's grandfather, Herbert Spalding, although a logger, also took a broader approach to managing their property's forests. With evidence that the property had once been a seasonal living site for local First Nations, his grandfather made the property available to elders for bark stripping. "The local First Nations valued the area because the Cedar roots were considered to be of better quality than in other locations." said Jon.
For Jon, the property and its forests bring him many layers of satisfaction. "There's a financial reward, as long as log markets pick up!" says Jon. And there should be a financial benefit, the property has been an investment for the family for decades.
"There's another part of it too," said Jon, "which is a lifestyle, a joy. "We design a management plan, follow a prescription and look at it, the forest is growing and it's maturing and it's habitat for different animal species," said Jon.
"Just being so closely connected, you have this almost intimate relationship with the forest," said Jon. "It's not just a bunch of trees."
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NEWS: Ministry old growth public engagement session
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Old growth strategic review
On July 17, 2019, the Government of British Columbia announced that a two-person panel had been appointed to lead an Old Growth Strategic Review and provide a report to the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.
Garry Merkel, a professional forester, natural resource expert, and member of the Tahltan Nation, and Al Gorley, a professional forester and former chair of the Forest Practices Board, will engage the public to hear perspectives on the ecological, economic and cultural importance of old-growth trees and forests. They will report back to government in spring 2020 with recommendations that are expected to inform a new approach to old-growth management for British Columbia.
Part of this review will include an opportunity for the public, organizations and professionals to share their thoughts on old-growth in B.C. The ways to participate are:
- Complete the online questionnaire.
- Organizations and professionals and other interested parties may submit a written submission. Read the Guidelines for Written Submissions.
- Send an email to oldgrowthbc@gov.bc.ca
Feedback regarding the proposed changes will be accepted until 4 pm on January 31, 2020.
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EARLY RESULTS: PFLA Member Survey
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Thank you to everyone who completed the annual PFLA Member Survey. The results will help shape the PFLA Strategic Plan for 2020, and will be shared in detail in an upcoming newsletter. Preliminary results tell us:
- 83% of respondents have been PFLA members for five years or more
- There is an approximately equal distribution in the size of respondent's managed forest land properties (less than25ha, 25-50ha, 50-100ha, 100-500ha, 500-1000ha, +1000ha)
- Respondents conduct a full range of forest management activities on their managed forest lands, including harvesting, silviculture, reforestation, habitat management and wildfire management
- The dwelling right, provided under the Private Managed Forest Act and regulation, is important to 78% of respondents
- 96% of respondents read the PFLA newsletter
We will announce
the winner of a free registration to the
2020 PFLA Conference, Field Tour and AGM in the next newsletter!
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COMING SOON: PFLA Hometown Meetings
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The annual PFLA Hometown Meetings tour is an excellent opportunity to sit down, face-to-face, with forest owners across the province and hear firsthand what's important to you.
It's also a great opportunity for forest owners to
network with other forest owners, keep up with relevant policy developments, and provide important feedback to help guide the organization's future efforts.
We'll be announcing our 2020 Hometown Meeting schedule in the next newsletter. We look forward to meeting with you soon!
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January 15-17, 2020 Click here for more information and to register.
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February 5-7, 2020 This conference has sold out for that last two years, register now and get the early bird rate.
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PFLA Newsletter Publication Schedule
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The PFLA Newsletter is published bimonthly. To make a submission to the PFLA Newsletter, please email us at:
info@pfla.bc.ca. Your query should outline the subject of your contribution, an estimated word count, and include your contact information. The PFLA reserves the right to make final publishing decisions.
PUBLICATION SCHEDULE
- February 2020 Issue
Now Accepting Submissions
Publication Date: February 15, 2020 Deadline for submissions: February 1, 2020
- April 2020 Issue
Publication Date: April 15, 2020 Deadline for submissions: April 1, 2020
- June 2020 Issue
Publication Date: June 15, 2020 Deadline for submissions: June 1, 2020
- August 2020 Issue
Publication Date: August 15, 2020 Deadline for submissions: August 1, 2020
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Private Forest Landowners Association
PO Box 764 STN A, Nanaimo BC, V9R 5M2
Tel: 250-642-4300 Toll Free: 1-888-994-8518
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