Inviting southern Thompson Okanagan residents to help guide forest management

Press Release

May 11, 2026

MERRITT –

Summary

Local residents in Thompson Okanagan are invited to provide input through a public survey and seven open houses to help guide the development of the tmíxʷ naqscn Forest Landscape Plan
The plan is being developed in partnership with First Nations to support forest stewardship, sustainability and community priorities
Feedback will help inform forest-management decisions in the region

Residents in Keremeos, Princeton, Merritt, Vernon, Kamloops, Ashcroft and surrounding areas are invited to share their input about the development of the tmíxʷ naqscn (pronounced ti-MUUK nak-CHEEN) Forest Landscape Plan (FLP) to guide forest-management decisions in the area.

People can share their thoughts through a survey, which will run from May 11 until July 10, 2026. The tmíxʷ naqscn FLP team will also hold six open houses and one virtual open house so people can learn more about forest landscape planning and ask questions.

Open house details are as follows:

Date: May 25, 2026
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location:
Victory Hall
427 Crowsnest Hwy.
Keremeos

Date: May 26, 2026
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location:
Princeton and District Community Skills Centre
Pasayten Room
206 Vermillion Ave.
Princeton

Date: May 27, 2026
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Location:
Civic Centre
Room 2
1950 Mamette Ave.
Merritt

Date: June 8, 2026
Time: 6:30-8 p.m.
Location:
Coldstream Community Hall
9909 Kalamalka Rd.
Coldstream

Date: June 9, 2026
Time: 6:30-8 p.m.
Location:
Sandman Centre
Kamloops Kia Lounge
300 Lorne St.
Kamloops

Date: June 10, 2026
Time: 6:30-8 p.m.
Location:
Ashcroft Community Hall
711 Hill St.
Ashcroft

Date: June 15, 2026
Virtual town hall
6:30-8 p.m.
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81380867582?pwd=dNBGrsi4ZtaR9Xqx1lSCDcoXx6P6JL.1

First Nations and community engagement

FLPs are being developed through collaborative planning with First Nations and engagement with forest licensees, local communities and other stakeholders in each local area.

The name tmíxʷ (the land and all living things) and naqscn (one voice) originates from the nsyilxcən and nłeʔkepmxcín languages and reminds that the forest landscape plan is about unity, respect and shared responsibility for the land and all living things.

The following Nations have partnered with the Province on the tmíxʷ naqscn FLP:

Nlaka’pamux Nation: Coldwater, Cook’s Ferry, Lower Nicola, Nicomen, Nooaitch, Shackan and Siska
Syilx Nation: Lower Similkameen, Osoyoos, Upper Nicola, Upper Similkameen and Westbank
Secwépemc Nation: Skeetchestn

Engagement with other First Nations in the area continues through access to an open planning table, an established consultation process to ensure there are ongoing opportunities for dialogue and input.

Engagement with forest licensees, subject-matter experts and the public is a key part of every FLP. The engagement ensures that operational expertise from forest licensees is incorporated into plan development alongside First Nations’ interests and community-identified values.

Through the initial engagement process with First Nations, key themes have emerged that will be integrated into the survey for public feedback to reflect community priorities.

Once feedback is received, the next step is to incorporate it into the FLP.

Developing FLPs is a new approach to forest stewardship that establishes clear direction for the management of forest-related values, such as old forests, biodiversity, ecosystem health, climate change, watershed health and wildfire risk.

Through collaborative planning and improved stewardship tools, FLPs increase the stability and predictability of a sustainable timber supply to support communities and the forest industry.

Quick Facts:

B.C. has 15 forest landscape tables that are at various phases of planning, representing 42% of the area intended for FLPs.
FLP design is guided by five key objectives:
- manage the values placed on forest ecosystems by First Nations
- support the protection and conservation of the environment
- support production and supply of timber in the forest landscape area
- manage the values placed on ecosystems by local communities
- prevent, mitigate and adapt to effects caused by significant disturbances to forests and forest health

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