Hugh Watt

The Nakusp and Area Community Forest, a corporation that’s brought millions of dollars to the Arrow Lakes community over the last decade, is coming under new management. The community-owned forest company’s board has hired Cabin Resources to take over the management of the business from True North Forestry in June. True North’s Hugh Watt, who has guided NACFOR’s operations since 2012, has decided not to renew his contract in order to pursue new challenges – though he won’t be far away if they need his advice. “When you feel it’s time, it’s time,” Watt said. “But we will continue to help with transition to new management.” Under Watt’s management, the company has weathered wild swings in forest prices, forest fires, COVID, and new restrictions to harvesting. He thinks one of the True North team’s biggest achievements was helping NACFOR deliver more than $2.5 million in direct benefits to the community.