Representatives from the province’s community forest groups will gather in Vernon this summer to find solutions to challenges the sector faces. The B.C. Community Forestry Association will hold its 24th Annual General Meeting in Vernon June 3 to 5. Community forests are licensed provincial lands that are managed through partnerships, usually between municipalities, First Nations, and other stakeholders. They are intended to be managed in a way that prioritizes the needs of the community, such as local stewardship, sustainable forest management, and economic benefits. The association (BCCFA) is a grassroots, membership-based non-profit that acts as advocates for the community forest industry. “Every year we hold a conference and annual general meeting in or near one of our member communities,” Jennifer Gunter, Executive Director of the BCCFA, told Vernon Matters. “This year we will be hosted by the Monashee Community Forest, which is a partnership between the Splatsin First Nation and the Village of Lumby.”