The Bridges Project is an initiative supported by a consortium of partners working to create an interactive website that will connect buyers and sellers of forest products.
This website will provide up to date information on current and future availability of wood fibre from community forests and woodlot licences.
In 2009, members of the B.C. Community Forest Association (BCCFA) identified the need for small tenure owners such as community forests and woodlots to connect log sales with local saw millers. BCCFA recognized that getting the right log, to the right place at the right time would benefit wood workers and the economy of our communities.
“The BCCFA is excited about the potential of this project and how it will help our forest workers and local economies recover and grow.” says Robin Hood, president of the association.
Quick and easy access to market information, whether it is what a seller has to offer or what a buyer is looking for, will facilitate the flow of fibre into the marketplace. We hope to see raw fibre reach a mill or manufacturer where it will be used for its highest value, creating the highest number of jobs for the highest profit.
A buyer/seller website will help bring businesses together creating relationships that will stimulate new opportunities to develop durable and sustainable economic activities. With better exchange of information they can get the right log, to the right place, at the right time.
“As BC’s forest sector emerges from the economic doldrums, there will be new and expanded business opportunities. It will be extremely useful to have a web site where log and wood sellers such as woodlot licensees, can make contact with log and wood buyers. We hope to see many mutually beneficial, long-term business relationships as a result,” says Brian McNaughton, general manager of the Federation of B.C. Woodlot Associations.
Throughout the first phase of this project the management team will be visiting more than 10 locations throughout B.C. to meet with the forestry community. These discussions will assist in creating a robust and easy to use website that will link buyers and sellers to share information. Whether users are planning for the future or looking to buy or sell now this new website will be able to point the user in the right direction.
Kevin Davie, vice president and on the Bridges Project management team says: “The information from these meetings will provide small tenures and saw millers the ability to expand into other markets. The information will also assist the association in looking at other market opportunities for our members.”
The next discussion forum is taking place on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 from 6-9 p.m. at the Pioneer Complex at 351 Hodgson Rd., Williams Lake.
Project partners include:
• Community Futures Development Corp. of Cariboo-Chilcotin
• British Columbia Community Forest Association
• The Federation of BC Woodlot Associations
• Cariboo-Chilcotin Beetle Action Coalition
• Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition
• Omineca Beetle Action Coalition
• Pine Beetle Epidemic Response Branch, Ministry of Regional Economic & Skills Development
• Western Economic Diversification, Government of Canada
• Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT)
• Community Futures BC (for REDI-BC).