The FVMBA works with many different community stakeholders to care for the various trail networks throughout the Fraser Valley. For trails in Mission, one of our partners is the District of Mission Forestry Department. The Mission Municipal forest, established in 1958, covers 10,900 hectares and is 88% provincial crown land and 12% municipally owned land. It lies within the unceded territories of the Kwantlen, Katzie, Matsqui, Leq’a:mel, Shxwowhamel, Seabird Island, Sumas, Peters, Musqueam, Semihamoo, and Stó:lō Nations. In addition to the mountain biking, hiking, trail running and other recreation activities we love, as an active tree farm and working forest, we share the space with ongoing forestry operations such as tree harvesting, reforestation, manual brushing, tree spacing and pruning, forest fertilization and research, road construction, and forest fire prevention.

The FVMBA holds partnership agreements with both the District of Mission and the Province of BC to maintain many of the existing trails on Bear Mountain and Red Mountain. Not all existing trails on Bear and Red are formally authorized (the FVMBA is working with the District of Mission and the Province towards authorization of all pre-existing trails) and even with maintenance agreements in place, it is important to note that trails are not necessarily given protection from harvesting. The Forestry Department are our go-to experts, helping identify protected wildlife habitats and sharing locations of research projects, and other helpful information. They keep us informed of future forest projects and development and we work together to ensure the health of the forest and the trails. Recently the District of Mission supported the restoration and rerouting of trails affected by forestry operation in Fall 2020 by providing funding and permission for the FVMBA Trail Crew and FVMBA volunteer builders to complete trail work to reroute and restore Moon Rock, Wambo Jambo,  Bearea 51, and Corral Loop.

We work with the District of Mission to balance mountain bikers’ interests with sustainable forestry practices that are inherently a part of a successful tree farm and support the greater community. This consultation and collaboration is essential for the on-going management of the trails we love. From funding to pay the FVMBA trail crew for maintenance work on Bear and Red, letters of support for FVMBA grant applications, and working with us on trail projects, the Mission Municipal Forest is a strong advocacy partner for recreational opportunities within the tree farm.

Mekw wat axwest ikwelo – everyone shares here

The FVMBA is grateful for support from the District of Mission Forestry Department.