Text Box: Manager – Neil Findlay, RPF: Neil Findlay graduated from UBC in 1988 with a Forestry Degree in Resource Management. He worked throughout Coastal BC for 3 years for International Forest Products in engineering and silviculture. After that he started his own consulting business in Kamloops in 1991 and has been doing it ever since, working for various major licensees, Woodlot owners, First Nations and government clients. Neil started with the Bonaparte Band in July 2008 and works under contract to the Band. He maintains an ‘open-door’ policy and welcomes input from all community members for ideas and potential direction where the department may head in the future Text Box: No Photo Available at this time Text Box: Forestry Department – Overview: The forestry department, and manager Neil Findlay, report directly to the Band Administrator. The forestry department is responsible for management of all Band forest tenures such as the Band’s Woodlot Licence as well as Forest Licence volume. The department also manages activities undertaken by the archaeological / cultural heritage crew, oversees range and wildlife issues, manages all fuel management activities and explores various funding initiatives and economic diversification opportunities. On-going activities and initiatives in the department include: Manage the Bands current Forest Licence volume holdings which exceeds 300,000 m3 at the time of this writing in May 2010. Negotiate a current offer from Ministry of Forests and Range for approximately 495,000 m3 more timber over a 10-year period. Pursue an area-based Woodland Licence as recently announced by Ministry of Forests and Range. Actively organize and manage the Band’s Woodlot Licence to bring it into compliance. Site preparation and planting of 30,000 seedlings was completed in May 2010 and a further 20,000 seedlings will be planted in spring 2011 to meet outstanding silviculture obligations. Successful SAFE companies certification in March 2010. This will allow the Band to pursue contracts in the forest industry as a bona-fide contractor. Recent securing of funding for a fuels management crew that will keep a crew of 5 people employed full-time until March 2011. This crew is completing work which will help safeguard residences on Bonaparte reserves from wildfires. Complete forest layout and development contracts which provides full-phase services to major timber licensees on a fee-for-service basis. Currently working on a joint venture initiative with Zanzibar Holdings Ltd. for silviculture opportunities. Successfully completed a silviculture survey contract in fall of 2009 and commencing a tree planting contract spring of 2010. Exploring carbon credit / riparian forest initiatives along the Bonaparte River and Hat Creek watersheds. Proposal to the Ministry of Environment to initiate a guide – outfitting licence for the Bonaparte Band within it’s traditional territory. Initial proposal was rejected, but pressure will continue to be exerted to try and make this a reality.