ABOUT US


MANDATE
The Central Westcoast Forest Society (CWFS) works with a variety of private and public sector partners to restore aquatic and forest ecosystems and to provide educational and recreational opportunities.

The CWFS is a registered charity based on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

History I Board I Partners I Reports I Award

CWFS honoured to receive Minister's 2002 Environmental Award

TESTIMONIALS
"The Clayoquot Biosphere Trust is fully supportive of the work of the CWFS and the dedication, excellence, and professionalism exhibited by the society & its staff."
Thomas C. Esakin, (former) Executive Director,
Clayoquot Biosphere Trust

More testimonials listed on the left.

HISTORY
Public concern for the environment encouraged the BC government to institute unprecedented changes to land-use policies in the early 1990s. The new policies drastically affected forestry in Clayoquot Sound, and brought new focus to the environment.

Although many environmental organizations focus on changing forest practices, few work with local and regional communities to fix problems created by past practices and find solutions to move into the future. Few groups promote sustainable development that truly incorporates social, economic, and environmental values. Many environmental organizations have international concerns and are not as committed to the people affected by the changes they help to bring.

The Central Westcoast Forest Society was created in November 1995 to fill this vacuum - to include people in the environment; to find solutions that work for the environment and the people who live in it.

Registered as charity, the CWFS takes the unique approach of promoting sustainable development at all levels - local, regional, provincial, federal, and international. The CWFS puts sustainable development into action by working with government, local communities, and industry to provide employment while fixing the problems of the past and finding solutions for the future.

From hiring crews that are representative of the local regional population to having elected officials from local communities on its board, the CWFS strives to put local stewardship into a global context.

By focussing on restoration work and recreational and educational programs and infrastructure, the CWFS fulfills its mandate by involving community, environmental, and corporate partners, to help find real solutions that heal both BC's coastal rainforest and local communities.


BOARD
The CWFS is governed by a board of directors representing diverse interests.

Local government:

Local First Nations: www.nuuchahnulth.org

  • Ahousaht First Nation, Guy Louie . www.ahousaht.com
  • Hesquiaht First Nation, Matthew Lucas
  • Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, Thomas Martin (alternate Leo Manson)
  • Toquaht First Nation, seat in reserve but not currently occupied
  • Ucluelet First Nation, Al McCarthy

National Park:

Industry:


Labour:

 

PARTNERS AND SPONSORS
The work of the Central Westcoast Forest Society requires the support of government, societies, foundations, institutes, universities, corporations, businesses, unions, and numerous individuals. Without that support (financial, in-kind, volunteer etc.) the watershed restoration, recreational and educational projects of the CWFS just would not happen. Please take a moment to read the list of CWFS supporters and please consider how you also may be able to help.

Government

Societies/Foundations/Institutes/Universities

Corporations/Businesses/Unions

Thanks also to the following:
Air Nootka
Airspan Helicopters Ltd.
Alberni Communications and Electronics Ltd.
Alliford Bay Logging Ltd.
Baker's Corner
Breaker's Deli
Canadian Princess Resort
Cokely Wire Rope Ltd.
Common Loaf Bakery
Coombs Country Candy
Don McGinnis Contracting
Evancic Perrault Robertson CGA
Evergreen Savings Credit Union
1st Choice Automotive-Petro-Canada
Far West Foods Group
Gray Whale Deli
Iisaak Forest Resources Ltd.
Image West Gallery and Gifts
Island West Resort
IWA National

Jamie's Whaling Station
LA Grocery
Long Beach Link
Majestic Ocean Kayaking
Mike Leslie Consulting Ltd.-Road ...Construction/Deactivation
Murray's Grocery
North Arm Transport
North Island Communications
Pioneer Boat Works
Remax Mid-Island Realty, Jim Schwartz
Rod's Power and Marine Ltd.
Roman's Pizza
The Place-T.V. Appliance & Furniture Centre
Tin Wis Resort
Tofino Business Association
Tofino Co-op
Tree House Gift Company
Ucluelet Co-op
Vancouver Island Air
West Coast Helicopters
West Coast Motel

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Reports

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Len Dziama and Warren Warttig accepting the award

Central Westcoast Forest Society honoured to receive award

News Release September 12, 2002 (VICTORIA):
The Ucluelet-based Central Westcoast Forest Society (CWFS) was recognized with a Minister's Environmental Award for its seven years of work restoring BC's coastal rainforest.

"It certainly is an honour and a pleasure being here today to receive this award on behalf of the Central Westcoast Forest Society," said CWFS General Manager Len Dziama after the awards ceremony September 12 in Victoria. "It has also been an honour and a pleasure serving the communities of the Clayoquot Sound region."

 The CWFS board of directors includes many local West Coast Vancouver Island stakeholders; the District of Ucluelet, the District of Tofino, the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District, the Ucluelet, Tla-o-qui-aht, Ahousaht, and Hesquiaht First Nations, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, IWA Canada, and International Forest Products Ltd.

"This award is a tribute to the Central Westcoast Forest Society's unique combination of community partners, supportive businesses and organizations, and the skilled workers on our many projects," says Dziama. "The old ways of conflict, controversy, and confrontation do not work; with that method things do not get done. Our work proves that consultation, cooperation, and respect can achieve results once thought impossible."

With respectful community/industry partnerships with progressive, community-minded companies like Interfor, Dziama says it is possible to meet economic challenges and take advantage of the many opportunities associated with sustainable resource management.

"The additional support of local business sponsors such as Charles McDiarmid of the Wickaninnish Inn and Pointe Restaurant in Tofino, and Elke Loof-Koehler of Tauca Lea by the Sea Waterfront Resort in Ucluelet, are critical to our operation. They understand the fundamental need to restore our environment, but they are also wise enough to see the return on investment."

In British Columbia today, especially in small resource-dependent coastal communities, social and economic values must be given equal weight to environmental values says Dziama. "People and families must be part of the environmental equation."

Group Photos from Left to right; Back row: Katie Dick, Warren Warttig, Len Dziama, Minister Joyce Murray, Lieutenant Governor Iona Campagnolo, Deputy Minister Derek Thompson, Anne Marie Thornton, Susan Austen
Front row: Koren Pitkethly, Jack Meredith, Brian Kenedy, Dr. Philip Hill, Dr. David Bates, Jake Kerr, Bill Bourgeois, Anthea Bryan

The Central Westcoast Forest Society thanks the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District for this award nomination.

The CWFS is a registered charity dedicated to fish and forest ecosystem restoration, recreational and educational infrastructure and programming.

** Visit the west Coast of Vancouver Island during the last weekend of October (Oct. 25 & 26, 2003) for the annual Return of the Salmon Festival and see the CWFS's salmon habitat restoration work while the West Coast wild salmon run home. There is lots going on. Join in the fun.

Central Westcoast Forest Society
Len Dziama, General Manager

Contact us:

Central Westcoast Forest Society
Box 405, Ucluelet, BC V0R 3A0
Tel: (250) 726-2424
Fax: (250) 726-7211
Email: cwfs@alberni.net

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