Paul Kuster, Lower Simillkameen Community Forest Director, addressed Keremeos village council on October 5.

He gave council an update on the group’s progress to date.

The Lower Similkameen Community Forest began operations in 2005. Originally partnered with the Upper Similkameen Indian Band, the group eventually consisted of the Village of Keremeos, the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, and regional district areas “G” and “B” after the Upper Similkameen Band left the group to join another community forest venture in Princeton.

After several years of start up red tape and paperwork, the application process was completed in late 2008.

Since then the Lower Similkameen Community Forest has completed its initial cut of 16, 570 cubic metres in the Sterling Creek watershed.

The second phase of logging is currently underway off the Red Bridge Forest Service Road in the Ashnola. Delays in logging were experienced this summer due to the hot weather, which forced loggers out of the bush for most of the summer.

This second phase of logging involves 38,500 cubic metres and is expected to be completed by January of 2010. Because the Ashnola is experiencing epidemic pine and spruce beetle infestations, the LSCF is in the process of requesting an “uplift” of 10,000 cubic metres in order to take out more of the bug killed timber while it still has some value. The uplift would be an addition to the maximum allowable cut of 20,000 cubic metres per year over five years.

Kuster estimated that between 20 and 25 jobs are being created locally by the initiative, and even with poor lumber prices, a small profit is being realized.

The Lower Similkameen Community Forest Group held their annual public meeting on Thursday, October 8 in the village council chambers.