Whereas British Columbias regions are rich in forest resources, a renewable source of employment, revenues and materials that provide vital habitat for biological diversity, water quality, outdoor recreation and economic development, noting that employment and public revenues from British Columbias forests have declined substantially in recent decades, at the same time that watersheds and ecosystems have experienced negative impacts due to existing forestry practices; And whereas British Columbias diverse communities can realize substantially improved outcomes from forest resources by adopting best practices in forest stewardship and forest management from Scandinavia and other jurisdictions: Therefore be it resolved that the Province of British Columbia work with First Nations, regional districts and municipalities to substantially improve community benefits of forest resources, including: expansion of community tenures, introduction of regional log markets, incentives for value-added production, and strengthened standards of forest stewardship to increase legislated protection of drinking watersheds and biological diversity.
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations Rural Development The Province is committed to a strong sustainable economyone that works for all British Columbians and the environment. That includes working with communities, First Nations and industry to develop a fair, lasting strategy to create more jobs by processing more logs in BC and renewing our forests by expanding investments in reforestation. The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development is also exploring how we can expand our innovative wood products sector by addressing regulatory and capital barriers hampering the growth of engineered wood production and working cross-ministry to ensure public projects prioritize the use of BC wood. In partnership with UBCM, the Ministry hosted a Forestry 101 workshop to discuss the Principles and Opportunities for Strengthening Community Interactions with local government. This was a follow-up to 2016s UBCM convention workshop and was attended by over 100 participants from communities across the province. The discussions revealed the importance of the 52 Community Forest Agreements in place that connect municipalities directly to the management of local forest lands. There was also strong support for the introduction of First Nations forestry agreements, which are creating new economic opportunities. The Forest and Range Practices Act is a stewardship framework containing the high forest management standards for which BC is recognized. This legislation sets resource management objectives for eleven resource values, including water, soil, wildlife, biodiversity and visual quality. Forest licensees must not only manage in a way that is consistent with these objectives, but are expected to work closely with First Nations, communities, other tenured users and the general public. The Ministry encourages communities to develop strong relationships with local district managers and forest companies to promote their specific interests in local forestry decisions.