The Cheakamus Community Forest (CCF) encompasses more than 30,000 hectares of land surrounding Whistler.
The Cheakamus Community Forest was established in April 2009 when the Lil’wat and Squamish First Nations and the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) signed a 25-year tenure with the province. The three equal partners formed the Cheakamus Community Forest Society, an independent not-for-profit organization that oversees the management and operation of the forest.
Policy and Planning
Community forests are different from other tenures because they are managed by the community, for the benefit of the community. The Cheakamus Community Forest actively works with local stakeholders to develop forest harvesting and management plans that benefit the larger community, such as:
- protecting viewsheds,
- watersheds,
- recreation amenities,
- cultural assets, and
- important habitats.
Working With Partners
The CCF is an important partnership and opportunity for the RMOW. It strengthens our relationship with the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations as together we make decisions on land management in the area around Whistler. The RMOW has long been interested in having more say over forest harvesting so that other values important to our community like views, recreation and tourism, can be more strongly integrated. To that end, the CCF worked with local stakeholders and:
- identified additional areas that are exempt from logging or require additional discussion,
- created a 10 year harvesting areas plan, and
- is working on an access management plan to understand road and recreation access needs.
What Can You Do?
Open houses are held in the spring and fall of each year to review proposed harvesting plans and work conducted in the previous season. As a community forest, it will be most successful when the public continues to share its priorities and concerns.
Visit the Cheakamus Community Forest’s webpage to learn how the land is managed. There are lots of things to consider:
- ecosystem health,
- public and commercial recreation,
- road maintenance,
- views and access, to name a few.
The CCF has maps and reports that show what it is planning and doing.
Learn more about Whistler’s forest history prior to the Cheakamus Community Forest by watching the Whistler Forest History Video. The video was created by local foresters and long-time residents Don MacLaurin, John Hammons and Peter Ackhurst with funding from the Community Foundation of Whistler and support from the Whistler Museum and Archives Society.
