Tumbler Ridge has been granted a 25-year community forest licence which it will use to support existing jobs in the forest sector, reduce wildfire risks and produce bioenergy to provide back-up power to the community.

The harvesting rights and responsibilities in three separate parcels of land with in 25 kilometres of Tumbler Ridge will allow the community to log about 400 truck loads of timber each year.

"The community forest is meeting one of the district council's major goals and that is to diversify our economy," said Tumbler Ridge Mayor Larry White.

Canfor and West Fraser have sawmills in the nearby community of Chetwynd, and the region also has active coal mines.

Community forest agreements are one of the forms of timber tenure in the province. They are area-based and give communities exclusive rights to harvest timber, as well as the opportunity to manage and profit from other forest resources such as botanical products, recreation, wildlife, water and scenic viewscapes.

More than 50 community forests are operating or are in the planning stages in British

Columbia.

"This agreement gives Tumbler Ridge a larger role in how local forest resources are

managed to address community needs and priorities," said B.C. Forests Minister Pat Bell.