Province expects new woodlot near Enderby will generate local jobs

ENDERBY – The province has tendered a new woodlot near Ashton Creek, east of Enderby which should translate into more jobs for the region.

"This new woodlot will help keep jobs in the Okanagan and give local communities a greater say in how local forest resources are managed," Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo says in a press release. "A strong forestry sector has spin-off benefits for our communities supporting other key sectors such as small business and manufacturing."

The province is currently accepting bids from prospective operators wanting to manage the 1,189 hectare woodlot which includes a total allowable cut of 4,250 cubic metres from two separate blocks. The deadline for bids is Dec. 3. and application forms are available online through the Ministry of Forestry's official notices system.

This latest woodlot is the fourth for the Okanagan region since 2013. Last year woodlots were announced for Selkirk, Rocky Mountain and 100 Mile House. The licences were awarded this year.

Woodlots are small, area-based tenures combining private land with up to 800 hectares of Crown land on the coast and 1,200 hectares of Crown land in the Interior. 

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.