About Cortes Ecoforestry Society

Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities

CES was born as a pro-active and solutions-oriented response to Cortes Island’s industrial forestry and the growing unease with its results. We are a grassroots organization representing a large proportion of the island adult population and backed by 400 members.

Our goal is to obtain tenure (control), in cooperation with the Klahoose First Nation, over the forest land reserve lands of Cortes (both public and corporate) for the creation of an Ecosystem-Based Community Forest. These lands represent just under 50% of the island land-base. A Community Forest will both increase local economic activity and bring an end to acrimonious struggles with “off island” interests regarding forest use.

Like communities all over BC, (hyperlink to ’About Community Forest’ page), we want to see local people, making local decisions, about local lands.

Working with Silva Ecosystem Consultants, CES has done extensive GIS mapping and ecosystem analysis work. Timber cutting, just one of many forest uses, will follow an ecosystem-based forest management plan that recognizes the need to protect the diversity of the forest ecosystem over time. In addition to the current abilities of Cortesians, (see Cortes woodworkers directory) the island community will develop new infrastructure to process, manufacture and market timber and non-timber forest products at a scale which fits the island economy. The Community Forest proposal is a continuation of the Cortes Initiative, a multi-party negotiation involving Weyerhaeuser, the Ministry of Forests, Klahoose and CES in 2000.

Our current initiatives include:

• Membership Drive
• Community Forest Proposal

CES is 100% funded by YOU! Our members and supporters keep us alive. Please support our work – donate now!