Timberwest Forest Corp. and The Nature Trust of British Columbia Sign Mou

Memorandum Establishes Relationship to Conserve Biodiversity

VANCOUVER, May 9, 2013 - TimberWest announced today that the Company has signed a "Memorandum of Understanding" ("MOU") with The Nature Trust of British Columbia to further a working relationship aimed at conserving biodiversity on Vancouver Island.

Both TimberWest and The Nature Trust are BC-based organizations with interests in, on and around Vancouver Island. TimberWest and The Nature Trust have a history of cooperation and a legacy of conservation agreements, including the permanent protection of approximately180 hectares of habitat on Vancouver Island's Englishman River.

"TimberWest is very pleased to be able to further our partnership with The Nature Trust in our 20th anniversary year," said Brian Frank, President and CEO of TimberWest. "TimberWest is committed to a science-based approach to protecting areas of high ecological value on its forest lands on Vancouver Island, and working in cooperation with The Nature Trust makes that commitment even stronger."

The two organizations will explore opportunities to protect biodiversity values on TimberWest lands in the Koksilah River watershed on Vancouver Island and will also explore land conservation opportunities on other TimberWest lands.

"TimberWest is an important partner for us, and we look forward to the opportunity that this MOU provides to continue to work together to identify, and ultimately conserve ecologically important lands on Vancouver Island," said Jasper Lament, CEO of The Nature Trust of British Columbia.


About TimberWest Forest Corp

TimberWest is celebrating 20 years of sustainable forest management in 2013. TimberWest is a leading BC timberlands company and the largest private managed forest land owner in Western Canada with 325,400 hectares / 804,200 acres on Vancouver Island. TimberWest also holds renewable Crown harvest rights to 700,000 m3 per year in coastal British Columbia.

TimberWest has a strong tradition of working with communities on Vancouver Island, including through its real estate business, Couverdon Real Estate. TimberWest is also pursuing new investment opportunities including wind energy and carbon offset projects that will help diversify the local economy. TimberWest is owned by two leading Canadian pension funds, British Columbia Investment Management Corporation and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board.


About The Nature Trust of British Columbia

The Nature Trust of British Columbia is a leading non profit land conservation organization dedicated to protecting BC's natural diversity of plants and animals through the acquisition and management of critical habitats. Since 1971 The Nature Trust has invested more than $70 million to secure over 61,000 hectares (150,000 acres) across British Columbia.


SOURCE TimberWest Forest Corp.

Image with caption: "Koksilah River watershed on Vancouver Island Photo c/o TimberWest(CNW Group/TimberWest Forest Corp.)".
Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130509_C5141_PHOTO_EN_26561.jpg



Media Contacts:

Sue Handel, Communications Manager
TimberWest
250 729-3744

Robin Rivers, Communications Manager
The Nature Trust of British Columbia
604 924-9771 ext.226