The Sunshine Coast Community Forest may be one of B.C.'s smallest but it punches well above its weight. The operation earned the 2025 Robin Hood Memorial Award for excellence in community forestry on May 29, recognizing its outsized impact on the local community.
The award recognizes the organization's community-centred approach to forestry management and its substantial economic contributions to the region.
Since 2007, the community forest has invested nearly $25 million in local infrastructure, recreation facilities, economic development projects, and community initiatives throughout the Sunshine Coast.
One of the forest's recent initiatives is a firewood program that provides affordable, sustainably sourced wood to residents.
The program employs individuals facing workforce barriers and supplies firewood at no cost to families experiencing financial hardship.
The Sunshine Coast Community Forest, owned by the District of Sechelt, has an annual allowable cut of 20,000 cubic metres and is one of 62 community forests operating across B.C. Together, these community forests contribute more than 2.25 million cubic metres of fibre annually, representing three per cent of the province's total harvest.
"When you hear about local leaders and the incredible benefits they bring to their community through forestry, you can just tell this is what the future of forestry looks like," said Forests Minister Ravi Parmar in the release. “The Sunshine Coast Community Forest is this future and is leading with a community-first approach that weaves together local economic resiliency with healthy forests to support those who call the Sunshine Coast home."
The organization maintains strong community ties and transparency through regular engagement activities, including bi-weekly newspaper updates, email newsletters, and a community advisory panel, said the press release. It also organizes educational field trips for school children, university researchers, government officials, and community members.
"It means a lot to us to be recognized among the many exceptional community forests in B.C.," said Sara Zieleman, executive director of the Sunshine Coast Community Forest in the release. She credited the community's support, volunteer dedication, and organizational partnerships for the recognition.
“We're proud to be part of a network of community forests working to create social, ecological and economic benefits across the province.”
The Sunshine Coast Community Forest employs ecosystem-based management techniques that prioritize forest health, biodiversity, and long-term sustainability.
Their approach includes retention systems designed to minimize logging impacts while implementing conservation measures to protect wildlife habitats, watersheds, and reduce wildfire risk.
The Robin Hood Memorial Award for Excellence in Community Forestry was established in 2016 to honour the legacy of Robin Hood, a British Columbia resident who championed local community forestry and was active in woodlot and community forest communities.
Community forests in British Columbia are typically managed through partnerships between local governments, community groups, and First Nations. These operations focus on supporting local communities while contributing to forest economy diversification and creating opportunities in recreation, wildlife, and watershed management.
More information about the Sunshine Coast Community Forest can be found online.
Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter’s civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
Words missing in article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
