Forest Tenures in the Tl’azt’en Nation Traditional Territory Prepared by: Tanizul Timber Ltd., February 17, 2014.

With this document we hope to explain some basics of forest tenure in the Tl’azt’en traditional territory. Key Forest Tenures in Tl’azt’en Territory Tenure Name Tree Farm Licence (TFL) Community Forest Agreement (CFA) First Nations Woodland Licence (FNWL)

Woodlot Licence

Forest Licence

Non-replaceable Forest Licence (NRFL)

Timber Sale Licence (TSL)

Notes An area based replaceable tenure; the holder must pay full / industrial stumpage rates. Tanizul’s tenure was a TFL from 1981 until 2009. Currently, there is no TFL in the Fort St. James Forest District. Also area based and replaceable, stumpage is 15% of the average stumpage rates. Tanizul’s tenure was converted to a CFA in November 2009. Area based and replaceable also, very similar in most ways to a TFL and a CFA, however, the annual rent is very low. Full stumpage must be paid, however, if a Forest Consultation and Revenue Sharing Agreement (FCRSA) is in place, then 85% of the stumpage in returned to the First Nation approximately 18 months after it was paid. This is one of the tenure options currently being offered to Tl’azt’en Nation. Area based and replaceable, similar to the above licences with the exception that the maximum size is only 1200 hectares. Tanizul’s CFA K4B is 42 times larger than the largest woodlot licence. Volume based replaceable tenure. Usually held by major licencees like Apollo and Conifex, specifying volumes in cubic metres that they can harvest out of the Prince George TSA. Typically, forest licencees have traditional ‘operating areas’ with the PG TSA where they conduct their planning and harvesting operations. This is the other tenure option currently being offered to Tl’azt’en Nation. The stumpage refund system would be the same as with the FNWL. Similar to the FL, however, these licencees do not have traditional operating areas, nor long term interest in the licence. These tend to be temporary licences that are offered by government to fulfill a shorter term objective. Tl’azt’en Nation currently has three NRFLs, A86098, A86099 and A86100. These licences, administered by Tanizul Timber, have been sold to Apollo and Conifex and they expire in March 2015. A short term licence to harvest a specific area put up for sale by the BC Timber Sales program (BCTS); BCTS is an arm of the provincial government. This is the only tenure on this list where the licencee is not required to establish a free growing crop of trees.

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The map of the Prince George Timber Supply Area (PGTSA), on page 4 shows, shows the location of Tanizul’s TFL 42 which is now CFA K4B. Other Land Use ‘Tenure’ Holders Although we are talking about Tl’azt’en traditional territory, it is ‘crown land’ in the eyes of the provincial government. The province issues forest tenures over these areas, but they also issue overlapping rights for activities such as the following: -

Hunting, guiding, and outfitting. Fishing Trapping Gravel and rock quarries, roads, and utilities. Mining Oil and Gas

The province requires tenure holders to plan their activities so that they do not unduly infringe on the rights of other overlapping land use permit holders. As an example, Tanizul Timber Ltd should always consider and accommodate where practical, the wishes of trapline holders with regard to fur bearer habitat or access management (as two examples).

Tl’azt’en Nation’s History of Natural Resource Management We feel Tl’azt’en Nation has a long history of natural resource management, including fish and wildlife habitat management and fish and wildlife harvesting. Also, forest management and timber harvesting. Tl’azt’en Nation is well positioned to greatly expand its role in natural resource management. With a well educated youth, the future in natural resource management can be limitless. As the Mountain pine beetle stands are salvaged in the Prince George TSA, the allowable annual cut (AAC) will drop dramatically. With global housing markets recovering, there will be increasing demand and a decreasing supply of wood products. Timber should be very valuable in the next 5 to 10 years. There should be enough value in timber to support very thorough multiple resource use planning and management. Definitions (excerpts from http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/library/documents/glossary/Glossary.pdf ) Tenure - The mechanism by which the government transfers specific rights to use Crown, or public, forest or range land and resources to others. Private forest companies, communities, and individuals

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gain the right to harvest timber in public forests through tenure agreements with the provincial government. Tenures may be area- or volume-based, and replaceable or non-replaceable. Area-based tenure - Timber harvesting tenures covering specific tracks of Crown forest. While the area of the tenure normally remains unchanged, the allowable annual cut is reviewed at least every 5 years and may change up or down at the discretion of the chief forester. Examples include … Tree Farm Licence, Woodlot Licence, and Community Forest. Volume-based tenure - Grants licensees the right to harvest a set volume (cubic metres) of timber within a specified timber supply area each year for the term of the licence; allows several licensees to operate in the same management unit. Examples include the larger and more common Forest Licence and the Timber Sale Licence.

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If you Google ‘PG TSA’ you will access many links to related information, including the attached map. Tanizul Timber Ltd welcomes questions and comments. Contact information is provided at www.tanizultimber.com.

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Map from: http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hts/MPB_Mid_Term/Mid-Term-Timber-SupplyReport_Appendix-5.pdf

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