NEW DIRECTION

Resource Management Ltd.

HEALTHY FORESTS - HEALTHY COMMUNITIES

“A CONVERSATION ON BC FORESTS”

W.W. (Bill) Bourgeois PhD, RPF

President
New Direction Resource Management Ltd
Updated February 10, 2011

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The complexity of the current and future forest sector is and will have to confront a wide range of requirements
to maintain or attain global competitiveness while delivering the societal expectations from the British Columbia
(BC) forest lands. These demands can be summarized in the overall objective of achieving healthy and resilient
communities (Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) which depend on conservation and use of healthy forests.

There is a growing concern among foresters, biologists, conservationists, academics, community leaders, forest
companies and First Nations that BC’s forests are in need of greater attention to achieve the societal
expectations over the long term. The looming crisis in our forests requires input from the public regarding how
Government and the forest sector can deliver healthy forests and subsequently healthy communities.

In guiding the conservation and management of BC forest lands, it is always good to know where you want to
get before taking action. Dr. Gordon Baskerville recommended foresters decide what they want from the forest
before going to the tool box. The decision regarding what is wanted from BC forests should be provided through
direction from the owners (i.e., public) and used by foresters to develop strategies and plans. Consequently, it is
essential to provide a vision for BC’s forest land to guide conservation and forest practices, regulations and
policies. As a focus for discussion, dialogue and debate regarding the state of BC’s forests relative to what is
desired, the following BC forest lands provincial vision statement is provided for discussion, revision and
guidance for the “Healthy forests-Healthy communities; A conversation on BC forests” initiative.

• BC forests managed to ensure protection of critical forest, cultural, tourism and recreation
values and conservation of critical environmental values, such as wildlife and fish habitat,
clean and abundant water and clean air for a sustainable future for BC society all over the
long term
• BC forests supporting healthy, diverse and resilient communities
• BC Forests supporting a sustainable and globally competitive forest products economy

The vision may be modified at the regional level to reflect local conditions and the emphases identified through
local discussion and dialogue but within the overall framework.

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BC is embarking on a time when decision makers are considering a new direction for the Province.
Consequently, encouraging discussion and debate regarding BC’s forest lands is timely and intended to provide
the views of the publics to decision makers. It is proposed the conservation and management of BC’s forested
lands be included in the debate among interested parties and decision makers over the next several months.

A coordinated initiative to catalyze discussion, dialogue and debate is proposed. This will be generated through
a cost effective and volunteer supported initiative to:

1. Provide the most current information and analyses conducted by leaders among the various forest
land interests and perspectives, and

2. Provide public comments on provincial and regional issues related to achieving a forest lands vision.

The initiative will have three components.

1. First is to provide background information from BC resources management leaders on the state of BC
forest lands in achieving the stated vision for the Province’s forests.

2. Second is to provide an opportunity for concerned citizens to enter into discussion, debate and dialogue
on the current and future of BC forest lands from both regional and provincial perspectives.

3. Third is to support and report on local workshops/seminars/town hall meetings, etc on related topics.

The output from these three components will be provided through the web site and other appropriate tools to
decision makers for their use to move forward on achieving what the pubic views as values from BC forest lands.

The primary audiences are decision makers, key influencers and interested parties. A web site will be used as
the primary tool to disseminate information and stimulate discussion, dialogue and debate. The web site will
be augmented through the use of social media tools to communicate the analyses and opinions of the leaders in
each of the issue areas. The web site will be designed for easy access to specific topics of interest to viewers
and opportunities to provide their comments and views on each of the topics. Print media will also be used,
where appropriate. Presentations by provincial and local issue leaders to public groups and key influencers will
be encouraged to stimulate discussion, dialogue and debate.

The initiative is not expected to achieve consensus among a broad range of interests. It is intended to stimulate
discussion, dialogue and debate for use by decision makers in creating sustainable resources conservation and
management legislation, regulation, policy and implementation to achieve a Provincial vision for BC’s forest
lands.

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BACKGROUND

Ninety-four percent (94%) of BC’s land base is in public hands, and there is an expectation that the BC
government will manage these lands in the public interest. The public expects the management of these forests
and lands will be done in such a manner as to protect conservation, social, cultural and economic values over
the long term and not diminish the values into the future.

The complexity of the current and future forest sector is and will have to confront a wide range of requirements
to maintain or attain global competitiveness while delivering the societal expectations from the British Columbia
(BC) forest lands. These demands can be summarized in the overall objective of achieving healthy and resilient
communities (Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal) which depend on conservation and use of healthy forests. The
looming crisis in our forests requires input from the public regarding how Government and the forest sector can
deliver healthy forests and subsequently healthy communities.

In guiding the conservation and management of BC forest lands, it is always good to know where you want to
get before taking action. Also, it is critical the actions be conducted under the recognition of Aboriginal Rights
and Title within BC. Dr. Gordon Baskerville, Dean Emeritus, Faculty of Forestry, University of New Brunswick
recommended in 1986 that foresters decide what they want from the forest before going to the tool box. The
decision regarding what is wanted from BC forests should be provided through direction from the owners (i.e.,
public) and used by foresters to develop strategies and plans. Over the last several decades, the BC forest
sector, including Government, has tended to work in the tool box (e.g., Forest Practices Code, Forest and Range
Practices Act, guidebooks, etc) without the guidance of a future forest vision. It is essential to provide a vision
for BC’s forest land to guide conservation and forest practices, regulations and policies. As a focus for
discussion, dialogue and debate regarding the state of BC’s forests relative to what is desired, the following BC
forest lands provincial vision statement is provided for discussion and revision and guidance for this proposal.

• BC forests managed to ensure protection of critical forest, cultural, tourism and recreation values
and conservation of critical environmental values, such as wildlife and fish habitat, clean and
abundant water and clean air for a sustainable future for BC society all over the long term
• BC forests supporting healthy, diverse and resilient communities
• BC Forests supporting a sustainable and globally competitive forest products economy

The vision may be modified at the regional level but within the overall framework to reflect local conditions and
the emphases identified through local discussion and dialogue.

There is a growing concern among foresters, biologists, conservationists, academics, community leaders, forest
companies and First Nations that BC’s forests are in need of greater attention to achieve the societal
expectations over the long term. Many of these concerned citizens across BC are of the opinion a crisis is
looming regarding the conservation and management of BC forest lands. Consequently, discussion, dialogue
and debate regarding requirements for action will benefit decisions by those in control of the future of BC forest
lands.

BC is embarking on a time when decision makers are considering a new direction for the Province.
Consequently, encouraging discussion and debate regarding BC’s forest lands is timely and intended to provide

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the views of the publics to decision makers. It is proposed the conservation and management of BC’s forested
lands be included in the debate among interested parties and decision makers over the next several months.

INITIATIVE

A coordinated initiative to catalyze discussion, dialogue and debate is proposed. This will be generated through
a cost effective and volunteer supported initiative to:

1. Provide the most current information and analyses conducted by leaders among the various
forest land interests and perspectives, and

2. Provide public comments on provincial and regional issues related to achieving a forest lands
vision.

Approach

The theme of the initiative will be to ensure resource conservation and management contributes to healthy
living in BC communities over the long term – “Healthy forests-Healthy communities; A conversation on BC
forests.”

The initiative will be strategic, collaborative and capitalizing on both the existing BC issue initiatives and the
identification of new initiatives required in achieving the BC forest lands vision. The intent is not to diminish or
replace Organizations’ existing issue initiatives but to utilize them and build upon them through filling a gap in
generating discussion, dialogue and debate over the requirements for sustainable resources conservation and
management in BC.

The primary audiences are decision makers, key influencers and interested parties. A web site will be used as
the primary tool to disseminate information and stimulate discussion, dialogue and debate. The web site will
be augmented through the use of social media tools to communicate the analyses and opinions of the leaders in
each of the issue areas. The web site will be designed for easy access to specific topics of interest to viewers
and opportunities to provide their comments and views on each of the topics. Print media will also be used,
where appropriate. Presentations by provincial and local issue leaders to public groups and key influencers will
be encouraged to stimulate discussion, dialogue and debate.

The initiative is not expected to achieve consensus among a broad range of interests. It is intended to stimulate
discussion, dialogue and debate for use by decision makers in creating sustainable resources conservation and
management legislation, regulation, policy and implementation to achieve a Provincial vision for BC’s forest
lands. The lessons learned from previous initiatives that prevented progress in stimulating discussion, dialogue
and debate on forest management include the need for:

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• Coordination • Volunteer commitment

• Basic support funding • Strategic and focused actions
• Persistence

The approach in this proposal has attempted to incorporate these lessons learned.

The initiative will have three components. The first is provision of background information from BC resources
management leaders on the state of BC forest lands in achieving the stated vision for the Province’s forests. The
second is to provide an opportunity for concerned citizens to enter into discussions, debates and dialogue on
the current and future of BC forest lands from both regional and provincial perspectives. The third is to support
and report on local workshops/seminars/town hall meetings, etc on related topics. The output from these three
components will be provided through the web site and other appropriate tools to decision makers for their use
to move forward on achieving what the pubic views as values from BC forest lands.

1. Component #1 - Background information briefs

Background information and analyses will be provided through compilation and dissemination of key
information from conservation and management experts, scientists and leaders within BC regarding:

• Identification of what is required to meet the BC forest lands vision

• Evaluation of the current condition of BC’s forest and the needs, values and expectations of
rural and urban communities relative to achieving the forest lands vision
• Identification of required changes, if any, regarding current direction and practice of
environmental conservation and land, water, fisheries and forestry management in BC

The participants providing the background information component of the initiative or advising on the
initiative will be asked to abide by the following principles:

• Documents and presentations will not be presented as a campaign for one or more
interests
• The initiative will be seen as non-partisan with an integrated perspective on providing the
forest land resources required for BC
• The focus will be on balancing ecosystem integrity and socio-economics
• Messages will be based on supporting evidence, analyses and expert opinion
• If messages include expert opinion, they will be clearly identified as such
• Focus will be on the BC forest lands vision provided in this proposal
• Focus will be on governance structures and requirements supportive of achieving the BC
forest lands vision

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The strategy is to recruit reputable experts as volunteers, spokespersons and/or analysts to provide the
public and decision makers with expert opinion and analyses using existing data on the following key
forest lands issues:

• Global forest stewardship leadership

• Biodiversity conservation
• Forest management
• Wildlife habitat management
• Fisheries habitat management
• Water management
• Non-timber forest resources management
• Climate change impacts and mitigation
• Forest land research
• Community diversification and sustainability
• Governance and regulatory structures
• Oversight instruments

Analyses will be based on existing data and expert opinion but may identify data and knowledge gaps for
future consideration by decision makers. The overall initiative will be guided by an Advisory Team
consisting of the following perspectives:

• Practicing forester
• Practicing biologist
• Practicing hydrologist
• Academia
• Practicing conservationist
• Non-timber resources specialist
• Forest harvesting
• First Nations
• Communities
• Legal oversight
• Media advisor

The requests for input, analyses and opinions will be coordinated to ensure the priority issues are
addressed.

The experts and leaders asked to prepare the required information will be selected by the Advisory
Team from a list of over 50 people within BC representing a range of perspectives. A first approximation
of the potential papers is included in the Appendix.

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2. Component #2 – Community discussion/dialogue sessions

Public comments will be obtained through organizing and holding community dialogue sessions on
provincial and local issues related to achieving a BC forest lands vision. The objectives of the sessions
are to:

a. Obtain comments from a range of interests and perspectives in each local area on their regional
and provincial issues

b. Encourage local discussion, dialogue and debate on the issues following each session

c. Document and make available to current and future decision makers information on the issues
and suggested actions from the session and follow-up discussions, dialogues and debates

Volunteers in local communities across BC will be recruited to organize, hold and report on community
sessions, ideally, in each of the following locations:

a. Northern interior– Prince George, Vanderhoof/Burns Lake, Smithers, Terrace/Kitimat, Fort St

John, Dawson Creek, Prince Rupert, Mackenzie/Ft St James

b. Central interior - Quesnel, Williams Lake, 100MH/Clinton, Cache Creek/Ashcroft

c. South central interior - Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, Salmon Arm, Kamloops, Merritt, Princeton,
Osoyoos/Okanagan Falls

d. Southeast interior - Nelson, Cranbrook/Kimberly, Grand Forks/Midway/Greenway, Kaslo/Slocan

Valley, Fernie/Sparwood, Creston, Golden/Revelstoke

e. Vancouver Island - Victoria, Duncan/Cowichan Lake, Nanaimo/Parksville, Courtenay/Campbell

River, Pt McNeill/Pt Hardy, Pt Alberni, Tofino/ Ucluelet, Gold River/Tahsis, Haida Gwaii

f. Southwest - Metro Vancouver, Hope/Boston Bar, Lytton/Lillooett, Squamish/Whistler, Powell

River, Sunshine Coast, Bella Coola

Teams of local volunteers (i.e., non-financial sponsor, event organizer, facilitator, and recorder) will be
asked to establish community discussion/dialogue sessions with the following responsibilities:

a. Sponsors to lend their name in support of the initiative, assist the Organizer(s) in obtaining
venues, encouraging interested parties to become recorders and participate in the dialogue
sessions. Sponsors will be either Provincial or regional in scope.

b. Organizer(s) to develop the dialogue session and encourage invitations to broadly based interest
groups (e.g., ENGOs, business, seniors, First Nations, gender, professionals, academics, home
makers, ethnic groups, youth, unions, communities)
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c. Facilitator to assist in moving the session forward to achieve the objectives in a fair, open and
respectful manner

d. Recorder to document the identified session location, issues, perspectives on the issues and
attendance (number and interests participating)

The output from the sessions will be posted on the initiative web site for viewing and use by interested
parties and decision makers.

4. Component #3 - Local workshops/seminars/town hall meetings

Local communities and organizations are planning workshops, seminars, town hall meetings, etc to
discuss issues related to the future of their forest lands. Rather than duplicate this public input
opportunity through the Community Dialogue sessions, it is encouraged that collaboration occur. The
“Healthy forests-Healthy communities” web site will be offered as a tool to communicate the
announcements and results of these local events to interested parties and decision makers.

Reporting

Interim and final summary reports based on the input from community dialogue sessions, local events and
through the web site will be distributed to decision makers, influencers and interested parties. The distribution
will be electronic or hard copy depending on the appropriateness and cost effectiveness.

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APPENDIX Potential papers

The following topics are proposed to focus the discussion and debate related to sustainable resources
conservation and management. The papers are intended to be developed for non-technical audiences and of
the length to be suitable for OpEd articles (i.e., 750 words maximum). Editorial assistance will be provided to
ensure the language is appropriate for non-technical audiences. The authors may wish to provide longer papers
for including in the web site as reference material for individuals wishing more detailed information. Key
references/papers to support the comments in the OpEd article will also be posted on the web site for
interested parties. There may be an option to include a brief (5-10 minute) video presentation of the OpEd
material with clarification pictures or graphics for publishing on the web site or through social media tools.
However, this will be at the discretion of the author and dependent upon available funding.

1) Situation

a) Why it is important to have a vision for BC forest lands and know the status of resources conservation
and management
b) What is required for globally leading forest stewardship

2) Community relationships– individual papers for each

a) Requirements for a healthy community

b) Influence of resource dependent communities on urban centres
c) Influence of sustainable resources conservation and management to resource dependent communities
and the status of the communities
d) Importance of sustainable resources conservation and management to rural communities
e) Importance of sustainable resources conservation and management to Aboriginal communities
f) Values and benefits expected by BC residents from forests
g) Comparing BC's Public Forest Management with Other Regional Approaches

3) Resource Inventories – individual papers for each

a) State, including data management, of fisheries habitat inventories

b) State, including data management, of wildlife habitat inventories
c) State, including data management, of ecosystems inventories
d) State, including data management, of tree inventories
e) Status, including data management, of growth and yield for AAC projections
f) State, including data management, of water resources inventories
g) State, including data management, of non-timber resources inventories
h) State, including data management, of resources inventories relative to resource conservation and
management decisions – overview

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4) Biodiversity conservation– individual papers for each

a) Biodiversity conservation condition and issues in BC

b) Status of species at risk
c) Status of forest lands management to meet biodiversity goals

5) Wildlife management

a) Status and limitations regarding achieving wildlife management goals

6) Fisheries management

a) Status and limitations regarding fisheries management to meet fisheries management goals

7) Water management

a) Status and limitations regarding water management to meet water management goals

8) Non-timber forest resources

a) Status and limitations regarding non-timber resources management to meet NTFR goals

9) Forest Land Research– individual papers for each

a) History and research capability within Government, academia and industry in BC

b) Research capabilities in BC, including trends, issues, desirable research organizations to meet the BC
forest lands vision and goals

10) Community diversification and sustainability– individual papers for each

a) Status of LRMP and RLUP implementation to meet the forest lands vision
b) Status of strategic and operational plans to meet LRMP and RLUP expectations and balance ecological
integrity and human well-being
c) Status of wildfire protection and priority actions for community protection
d) Healthy forests and communities through forest management practices to maintain natural ecosystem
processes
e) An assessment of BC's forest management strategies - Where are we going?

11) Climate change

a) Status of forest management in response to climate change

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12) Oversight structures

a) Status and required oversight structures to ensure forest lands vision and goals are being achieved
b) Need for a Forest Charter to guide Sustainable Forest Management decisions over time
c) Desired Ministerial organization to efficiently and effectively deliver required regulatory and oversight
structures

13) Governance and regulatory structures

a) Status of current regulatory structures required to meet the forest lands vision and goals

14) Overall assessment

a) Overall assessment of the condition of BC natural resources to achieve the forest lands vision

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