B.C. Government to Increase Revenue Sharing with First Nations on Stumpage and B.C. Timber Sales

The B.C. government announced on Wednesday (4-27-22) that it has increased the share of revenue that First Nations receive from forestry in their traditional territories. The share of revenue they currently receive is being increased as part of a longer-term revenue sharing model being co-developed by the province and First Nations.

The increased share of revenue from stumpage and BC timber sales is effective as of April 1, and it will increase First Nations’ share of forestry revenue by $63 million this year.

Currently, under the Formal Forest Consultation and Revenue Sharing Agreement, there are 126 First Nations in B.C. that receive a share of the revenue from stumpage and from B.C. timber sales. More First Nations could now be eligible for those agreements, increasing the total to 186.

At a press conference held on Wednesday announcing the change in revenue sharing, B.C. Forests Minister Katrine Conroy said:

“This past year, First Nations received between three and five percent of forest revenues, under the current program, for a total of $58 million. But the current forest revenue sharing model is inadequate. That’s why today we’re more than doubling the amount of revenue shared with First Nations to between eight and 10 percent. There will also be an additional three percent increase shared from revenue from BC timber sales.

This is the first step in our work to co-develop a new forestry revenue sharing model that aligns with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. It would mean that forestry revenue shared with First Nations could be more than $130 million this year alone.”