BC First Nations Coalition Acquires Additional Timber Rights

The BC Ministry of Forests transferred about 1 million m³ of timber in the Morice Timber Supply Area (TSA) to a coalition of First Nations—including the Witset, Wet’suwet’en, and Lake Babine—during meetings at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, the Terrace Standard reported (1-30-26).

The timber had previously been held by Canfor and was intended for the company’s mill in Houston. After that mill closed, Canfor no longer had the ability to process the wood locally. While the company retains tenure rights in the Houston region, the unharvested volume—commonly referred to as the “undercut”—was reassigned to the First Nations coalition.

Under the agreement, the undercut allocation will be harvested over a five-year period. Chiefs participating in the talks said they want additional volumes from the Morice and adjacent TSAs transferred into First Nations control in the future.

BC Minister of Forests Ravi Parmar said that during his first year in the role, a consistent message has emerged from the struggling forest sector. “I believe, working together, we have the opportunity before us to really build the path forward for a strong, prosperous, sustainable sector that allows us to be able to deliver for our communities, for all British Columbians, not just for the next five, 10, 15, 20 years but for the next seven generations ahead,” Parmar said.