West Fraser Timber and the Lake Babine Nation Forestry Limited Partnership (LBN Forestry) welcomed today's announcement by the Government of British Columbia, Canada, approving the creation of a new First Nations Woodland Licence in the Smithers area. The licence, created from timber tenures contributed by West Fraser and LBN Forestry, will be held by LBN Forestry which is owned by the Lake Babine Nation.
The creation of the new licence announced today by the Government of British Columbia marks a key milestone in the growing partnership between West Fraser and LBN Forestry, and reflects a new model for timber tenures and collaboration in B.C.'s forest sector.
To enable the creation of the new tenure, West Fraser contributed portions of its licence volume held in the Bulkley and Morice Timber Supply Areas, to help create a meaningful area-based licence. Additional volume was made available through the Government-held, BC Timber Sales, helping enhance the licence's scope and potential impact.
West Fraser will provide forest stewardship services to LBN Forestry to support the management of the new area-based licence, in alignment with the Nation's stewardship values and vision for its traditional territory.
The licence announced today builds on two previous agreements: a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) signed in April 2024, and a Log Supply and Forest Management Agreement (LSFMA) signed in January 2025.
West Fraser is a diversified wood products company with more than 50 facilities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, which promotes sustainable forest practices in its operations.
