Kw’ekw’e’i:qw (Sumas Mountain) Woodlots: W0045 & W2057

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Governance and Natural Resources

Protecting our land with traditional ecological knowledge and modern technologies.

Sumas First Nation has recently been granted the license to two (2) separate woodlots on Kw’ekw’e’i:qw (Sumas Mountain): W0045 and W2057, which together total approximately 1100 hectares and include a mix of diverse landscapes.. Our Natural Resources team is actively working with the community to develop a collaborative approach to forest stewardship that reflects the Nation’s values and priorities.

The Woodlot on W0045 covers approximately 800 hectares and Woodlot W2057, 300 hectares. Both woodlots represent a diverse landscape, including variations in stand structure, canopy cover, and understory development. This area includes both naturally regenerating and previously managed stands, with species composition influenced by past harvesting and silviculture activities. 

The future trajectory of woodlot activities on Sumas Mountain is influenced by a combination of sustainable forestry practices, conservation efforts, and recreational planning.

The woodlot has a history of extensive harvesting, with past operations shaping its current forest structure. Under a previous license holder, the woodlot was actively managed for timber production, including ongoing silviculture efforts. Over time, the forest has undergone significant changes, including areas of regeneration, habitat shifts, and the presence of SAR-listed species and sensitive ecosystems.

Woodlot W0045 vs. Woodlot W2057: Challenges & Plans

W0045, which is about 300 hectares in size, is currently the only woodlot with an approved Woodlot License Plan. This means it is the only woodlot with active and planned future activities at this time. W2057, in contrast, presents several access challenges that are still being addressed. The roads branching off the mainline are in poor condition, with brush encroachment and significant erosion making them rough, narrow, and unsuitable for most vehicles. In addition, we have yet to establish alternate access to the mountain from the north end.

Funding Information & Project Timeline

Nation-led Initiatives.

The W0045 and W2057 are Nation-managed. At this time, plans for the Woodlots are still in development. Funding and strategic planning are in-progress.

Active Woodlot Projects

Sumas Mountain Holistic Stewardship Plan

Project Background

The forest inventory will be the foundation for decision-making, helping create a data-driven, ecologically and culturally informed management plan that:

  • Provides a snapshot of the current state of the forest
  • Establishes a baseline for long-term monitoring and change detection
  • Assesses forest health, stand composition, and the impacts of human activities
  • Assesses habitat integrity, biodiversity, and species at risk
  • Identifies areas for conservation, restoration and protection
  • Identifies areas for enhancing carbon capture and fire resilience
  • Identifies cultural, medicinal, and ceremonial plants
  • Guides invasive species management and biodiversity protection

Project Objectives


The objectives of the Forest Inventory Project include:

  • To evaluate the feasibility and performance of live capture-and-release systems in Indigenous-managed rivers.
  • To develop and refine selective harvest methods that minimize impact on species of concern.
  • To strengthen Indigenous leadership in fisheries stewardship, research, and conservation.
  • To support healthy salmon populations and ecosystem integrity through improved monitoring and data collection.

Woodlot Tours

What are the intended outcomes of the Woodlot Tours?

Woodlot Tours are intended to facilitate discussions on how traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and community involvement can shape restoration efforts, long-term monitoring, and youth engagement opportunities. Additional objectives include:

1

Reviewing the woodlot’s history and past management practices.

2

Observing current forest conditions, including regeneration and wildlife habitat.

3

Sharing insights on how the woodlot can support ceremonial practices, food security, and healing spaces.

What is the future trajectory of woodlot activities?


With the development of a strategic plan for Woodlot utilization, Semá:th has plans for:

Moving away from conventional clearcutting practices.
Emphasis on single-tree selection and low-impact harvesting, particularly for ceremonial and community needs.
Maintaining continuous forest cover to support biodiversity and ecological function.

Establishing permanent sample plots for ongoing monitoring of regeneration and forest health.
Prioritizing regeneration success and old-growth stand development.
Active restoration through fill planting, stand diversification, and invasive species management.
Allowing for natural succession where feasible.

A small-scale Improved Forest Management (IFM) carbon offset project is in the ideation phase of development.
Potential integration with afforestation/reforestation projects or 2 Billion Trees funding.
Revenue from carbon credits to be reinvested into the community and sustainability of the project.

Deepening involvement with leadership and the community, guided by their values and vision.
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) will be integrated into restoration and management planning.
Long-term goal of establishing a Guardians program and youth employment opportunities.

Exploring alternative revenue streams beyond timber, such as: Agroforestry
Carbon Credits
Non-timber forest products (NTFPs)
Healing homes
Cultural and educational tours
Interest in possibly creating an experimental forest or research partnership site.

Restoration and management plans prioritize Species at Risk (SAR) and sensitive ecosystems already identified in prior studies.
Strategic planning to maintain overall habitat integrity and connectivity.

General FAQs

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Woodlots allow individuals or small groups to manage parcels of land for sustainable forest management rather than large corporations. Although, these tenures emphasize local, sustainable management, management decisions are typically made by the license holder and the focus is more often on the business side of forestry and sustainable timber harvesting. Each woodlot has a set AAC, which limits the volume of timber that can be harvested annually and are limited to a land base of up to 1,500 hectares. This restricts the scope of activities and potential economic returns in comparison to other licenses. The potential for revenue is lower due to the smaller land base, but it requires less capital and operational capacity than other licenses, one reason being stumpage rates are typically lower as the WL program is designed to support small-scale, sustainable forestry practices and based on a discounted tabular rate.

Harvesting specific trees or small groups while leaving most of the forest intact. This method is used to maintain forest health, protect biodiversity, and ensure a continuous supply of timber over time. It promotes sustainable forest management by minimizing environmental disruption, preserving wildlife habitat, and maintaining water quality.

A portion of the forest canopy is left standing to provide shade and protection for regenerating trees, mimicking natural forest regeneration.


Small, defined areas of trees are harvested in patches to create openings for new growth, while maintaining surrounding forest cover.


Small groups of trees are harvested at intervals, allowing natural regeneration in openings while preserving overall forest structure.