+ resource reliance in canada the forestry industry
TRANSCRIPT
+
Resource Reliance in Canada
The Forestry Industry
+The BC Forestry Industry
What 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 Environmental
Products- 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 Sustainability
According 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