Salmon Arm, Vernon and Penticton Forest District staff actively solicited public input on the Timber Supply Review in the Okanagan Timber Supply Area through the following:
• direct mail-out and distribution of an information release outlining the information contained in the Timber Supply Analysis and the next steps in the Timber Supply Review process. An open invitation for interested groups to request a presentation was included
• distribution of 500 copies of the Timber Supply Analysis, 675 copies of the Socio-Economic Analysis and 1400 copies of the Discussion Paper. Written submissions were encouraged and the Discussion Paper included a response form which readers were encouraged to complete and return to the district managers
• 35 information sessions were held with representatives from the timber industry, labour, local governments, interest groups and organizations (see Appendix 1)
• extensively advertised open houses were held in Salmon Arm, Vernon and Kelowna
• radio interviews were provided
• newspaper articles were encouraged
Information sessions were held in many of the communities within the Shuswap and Okanagan (see Appendix 1). The three open houses were attended by 345 people.
The Forest Service received 983 written submissions from individuals, businesses, organizations, labour and local governments (see Appendix 2). Timber supply analyses were submitted by the Shuswap Okanagan Forest Association and the Shuswap Environmental Action Society.
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The Okanagan Timber Supply Review received a very high level of public interest. This was demonstrated by the number of meetings held, the turnout at open houses and the number of written responses received. Due to the range and volume of public responses received, comments have been summarized. |
