What started as a simple idea and pilot project around landscape-level private land forest management in the spring of 2008 has now grown into a nationally and internationally recognized community forest, governed by the Weberville Community Forest Association.
Initiated jointly by FPInnovations Forest Operations Division and the Agro-forestry Woodlot Extension Society, the project quickly gained attention and interest from various stakeholders in industry, government, and Non-Government Organizations for its grass-roots, collaborative approach to private woodlot management. Supporting partners include Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Agri-Environment Services Branch, Alberta Forest Extension Network, Municipal District of Northern Lights, Woodlot Association of Alberta, Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd., and Woodmere Nursery, to name a few.
The vision of the WCMF is to encompass the goals of multiple woodlot owners and in doing so, provide a “big picture” view of private forest management which offers greater opportunities by virtue of its increased total land area. This approach not only addresses the economical benefits through landowner collaboration, but also the environmental and social aspects. By working together, the landowners effectively combine their lands in order to take advantage of immediate opportunities such as tree planting, recreational trail systems and woodlot inventories, and also future opportunities such as biomass energy projects and carbon credit trading.
By working together the WCMF has fostered a strong sense of community for the benefit of not only the landowners themselves but for the forests which will be managed more responsibly and sustainably as a result.
General Manager: Lisa Rybchuk
T: (780) 624-6425
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P.O. Box 5195
Peace River, Alberta
T8S 1R8
