About Us

The Slocan Integral Forestry Cooperative (SIFCo) board of director is comprised of representatives from three long-standing residents organizations. These organizations are:

• the Red Mountain Residents Association (RMRA)
• the Elliot-Anderson-Christian-Trozzo Watersheds Association (EACT)
• the Winlaw Watershed Committee (WWC)

In addition, we currently have one resident of the Village of Slocan on our board. SIFCo perceives the community, in all of its diversity, as a valuable source of knowledge and ideas. Many residents in this valley have dedicated years of service to the dilemma of resource extraction in a populated valley corridor, and are well informed concerning relevant issues. These voices must be taken seriously as we continue to create a plan that holds community integrity at its core.

SIFCo secured a Probationary Community Forest Agreement (PCFA) in the Central Slocan Valley in January 2008. This provided our community with the opportunity to manage, sustain, and enjoy the benefits from local forest resources. SIFCo is creating a socially responsible mechanism for including valley residents in planning for forest uses. Keeping jobs and profits local, and supporting local entrepreneurs with opportunities and a variety of forest-based raw materials, are integral components of our management plan.

Our planning process is emphasizing long-term economic, social, and environmental stability. A diversity of values are considered in our planning development.

Our goal is to be part of creating a healthy and vibrant local community, a community built on respect for one another and respect for a healthy, fully functioning ecosystem.