Your involvement with the PFLA means the world to us and is invaluable to the work we do. It's during this time that we like to take the opportunity to thank you for your contributions and participation throughout this past year. We appreciate every phone call, email, retweet and tradeshow booth visit.
Each interaction, no matter how big or small, helps to improve the work we do.
Here is a review of some the highlights of the outreach we have been doing on your behalf, along with some of the policy priorities for 2017. We look forward to continuing the work of supporting Private Forest Landowners across BC and receiving your input on these important initiatives. Otherwise, Rod is just a lonely guy in a straw hat talking to himself at the Cowichan Exhibition.
Chambers of Commerce:
PFLA is reaching out to Chambers of Commerce in key Managed Forest areas to offer briefings and presentations illustrating the many social, environmental and economic benefits of responsible private forest stewardship, and some of the challenges faced by our member operations in an increasingly competitive and complex business.
Talking to prospective new members about the benefits of being part of our group:
We are always seeking to grow our group and increase the amount of sharing we do to help others. Our outreach to Managed Forest owners old and new is ongoing.
BC Budget consultations:
PFLA has been a regular presenter at the BC government Select Standing Committee Budget Consultation hearings for many years now, and this year was no exception. The events are a great opportunity to reach out to a committee of 9 MLA's from both the government and opposition, and gives us a chance to go on record with the benefits an challenges facing our businesses. We were well received again this year, with an attentive committee and a number of good questions after the presentation.
Advocacy at political events:
PFLA is proudly non-partisan and we talk to all parties about the benefits of responsible stewardship on private forest lands. PFLA takes advantage of every reasonable opportunity to spread the good word about responsible private forest stewardship - and that includes reaching out to MLA's and election candidates from all parties at all kinds of events.
We have also been busy this fall with a number of activities that will remain as priorities, at least for the early part, of 2017. We look forward to updating you as things progress on the following:
- Monitoring the SLA dispute closely and communicating with government to ensure that any opportunity to remove private land log export restrictions as part of a negotiated settlement is not missed, and to ensure that any agreement between the US & Canada does not further devalue private forest operations.
- Monitoring Managed Forest property assessments and property taxes and advocating with government to ensure that the Managed Forest program includes a property tax structure that encourage the planting, growing and harvesting of timber on private lands. Please keep us informed if you see anything of concern.
- Continuing to work closely with water users, communities, local government, provincial government and local stewardship groups to educate and inform and promote the initiatives and efforts taken by private forest operations to protect water quality.
- Revising the PFLA Handbook of Best Management Practices for Private Forest Land
- Reaching out to candidates in the upcoming May 2017 BC election - We are doing the rounds and helping candidates to better understand that a great deal of planning, assessment and careful stewardship goes on on BC's private forest lands every single day.
We wish you and yours a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukka or Winter Solstice, and for all to have a wonderful and safe holidays and Happy New Year!
