+

Resource Reliance in Canada The Forestry Industry

+ The BC Forestry IndustryWhat are some of the issues facing BC forests and resources in general?

+Case Study Objectives By the end of this class you will:

Be aware of the diversity and dynamics of BC’s forest ecosystems

Understand the importance of conserving ecological, social & economic values

Understand the principles of sustainable forest management Identify stakeholders and their importance to land use

planning Understand the government’s role in sustainable forest

management

+Facts about BC’s Forests

Forests cover about 60 million hectares of British Columbia

True

There are 20 different native tree species and diversity in the types of forests due to climate, latitude, natural disturbances, soils and terrain

False, there are 40 native tree species

There are 10 Biogeoclimatic forest zones in BC

False, there are 14 forest zones

Forests greater than 250 years old are Old Growth Forests Currently, BC has 22.6 million hectares of old growth forests

True

True or False?

+More facts about BC’s forests

BC’s forests are home to 500 species of plants, invertebrates, fungi and other organisms

False, there are 1000 species

85 species, subspecies or populations have been identified as over populated.

False, 85 species have been identified as “at risk”

The Government has set aside more than one million hectares of forest as 1, 186 approved wildlife habitat areas.

True and 6.2 million hectares have been set aside for mule deer, mountain goats and Stone sheep for winter habitats.

True or False?

+The Importance of Our Forests Categorize the importance of forests under the following headings:

Economic Political Social EnvironmentalProducts- paper, furniture, lumber

Tourism

Jobs

Trade with China

Part of ecosystem/hydraulic system

Strategic during times of war

Part of Canada’s image

Important agreements with US and Alberta

+Who has interest in our forests?

Who are the Stakeholders?

Individuals

Citizens of BC and Canada

Citizens of other

countries

People who live in

urban areas

People who work in forest

dependent communitie

s

People who work in the

forestry industry

People who use the

forest for recreation

People who make a living in

and around the forest

+Who has interest in our forests?

Who are the Stakeholders?

Groups

Customers of timber products

Environmentalists & NGOs

First Nations groups

Government officials who manage the

forest

Professionals who deliver

forest stewardship

+What is Sustainability?

ENVIRONMENT

SOCIETY ECONOMY

+ Defining SustainabilityAccording to the Thomas Jefferson Sustainability Council:

"Sustainability may be described as our responsibility to proceed in a way that will sustain life that will allow our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to live comfortably in a friendly, clean, and healthy world that people:

• Take responsibility for life in all its forms as well as respect human work and aspirations

• Respect individual rights and community responsibilities;

• Recognize social, environmental, economic, and political systems to be inter-dependent;

• Weigh costs and benefits of decisions fully, including long-term costs and benefits to future generations;

• Acknowledge that resources are finite and that there are limits to growth;

• Assume control of their destinies;

• Recognize that our ability to see the needs of the future is limited, and any attempt to define sustainability should remain as open and flexible as possible."

+ Threats to Sustainability

What are the possible economic, social,

environmental and political threats to sustainability in

terms of our resources?

+ Sustainable Forest ManagementWhat would sustainable forestry

involve? Harvesting only as much wood as can be replaced by new growth A long term commitment as trees take many years to reach maturity Recognize sustainable forestry is complicated and it is impacted by

changes to the physical geography Forestry affects other interests: mining, tourism, ranching,

agriculture, recreation, heritage Sustainability is everyone’s responsibility Sustainability is influenced by politics Public perceptions influence views on sustainability Governments, industry and organizations have different views on

sustainability

+ Conflicts arising in Sustainable Management

Which interest groups may have conflicting ideas with each other on how our forests should be managed?

How can these groups effectively use compromise to enable sustainable forest use?

+ Stakeholder Groups

1) Governments: local, provincial, federal, international

2) Government departments: forestry, environment, tourism, heritage, forest protection, wildlife, regional development, fisheries, agriculture

3) Independent officials and agencies: Chief Forester of BC, Forest Practices Board, land use planning committees

4) First Nations

5) Forest Companies

6) Professional & technological specialists in forestry, biology, engineering, hydrology etc.

+ Stakeholder Groups

Local citizens who depend on the forest: ranchers, tourism operators, hunters, fishers, trappers, naturalists, forestry workers, hikers, campers, bikers, kayakers etc.

Non Government Organizations e.g. Green Peace, David Suzuki Foundation, WWF, local conservation groups

Other organizations e.g. ranchers associations, tourist board, heritage societies, recreational groups, fish & game clubs, residents associations.

Third Party Certification Organizations e.g. Canadian Standards Association, Forest Stewardship Council, Sustainable Forest Initiative