The future plans for B.C. forests is on the mind of many and was the topic of discussion last week in Grand Forks.
The conversation, which included members of council, practicing as well as retired foresters, and other groups, was to give an opportunity to those groups to share views and concerns of the future of forests.
“Really what this is all about is to start generating some ideas around what forest management is meant to look like in this province starting from a community perspective,” said John Cathro, forestry consultant and the facilitator for the meeting.
The community conversations are happening in over 20 communities around the region.
“It’s built around the idea that not enough attention is being paid to forestry and forest management and that needs to change,” Cathro said.
The Healthy Forests – Healthy Communities initiative asks for input on a forests lands vision to guide legislation, regulations, policy and practices regarding B.C. forests. The hope is that the vision that was created by the initiative will be modified through local dialogues like this. It also asked for input on local priority issues, like making sure the forest is viable and sustainable for the area.
Coun. Chris Moslin, who spoke at the event, said that any sustainability plan has to have major considerations with fundamental ideas or the plan isn’t worth the effort.
“A sustainability plan would try to protect a full range of environmental values and enable the use of the land base by multiple groups,” Moslin said. “That’s the first leg of the stool.”
Moslin added that there isn’t much point coming up with a plan that doesn’t address the economy.
The draft forest vision attempts to manage B.C. forests in three ways:
Ensure the health and protection of all forest values; support healthy, diverse and resilient communities; and support a sustainable and globally competitive forest products economy. The vision can be modified at a regional level as well, to reflect local conditions.
For more information go to bcforestconversation.com.