The Tree Farm: The Evolution of Canada's First Community Forest

The Mission City Forest in southern British Columbia's Fraser Valley is the first and oldest continuously operating community forest in Canada. Its resilience and success helped pave the way for the community forest model in British Columbia. Operated under BC Tree Farm Licence #26, these 10,000 hectares of cedar, hemlock, and fir trees straddle the lower reaches of Stave Lake, a scenic area of historical and economic importance to First Nations, the province, industry, and the broader mission community.

This book captures the story of the municipal forest, known as the Tree Farm, and demonstrates why locally managed forests can innovate and generate a diversity of benefits for surrounding communities. The Tree Farm describes the trials and opportunities in the Mission's municipal forest, including fire management, fluctuating log prices, increasing visitor numbers, and the need to take steps toward reconciliation.

Fully illustrated with contemporary and archival photographs and maps, The Tree Farm is an ideal way to commemorate this innovative forestry model and chart a path forward.