A P R I L 4 , 2 0 1 3

THE CURRENT STATE OF FOREST MANAGEMENT (AND CLIMATE

CHANGE)

Forest Management by a Typical Licensee in a Typical TSA...1. They look for the best timber to harvest, and lobbies to maintain (or

increase) harvest levels.2. They harvest while respecting rules and constraints.3. They strive to meet post harvest obligations ASAP at lowest cost.

REVIEW: WHERE ARE WE TODAY?

But NOBODY is actually managing the forest?

SO, SINCE 1976 WHERE HAVE WE GOTTEN TO?

Forest Management by a Typical Licensee in a Typical TSA...1. They look for the best timber to harvest, and lobbies to maintain (or

increase) harvest levels.2. They harvest while respecting rules and constraints.3. They strive to meet post harvest obligations ASAP at lowest cost.

Licensee Forest Companies (many, not all):

• Assume meeting the law at the lowest cost is usually good enough.• Wish the government would take responsibility for the rest.

FIRST...THERE IS LOTS OF WISHFUL THINKING OUT THERE...

Government:• Wishes the licensees would take responsibility for all management and

planning.

• Initially hoped professional reliance would assure this.

• Starting to realize there are problems with this

THERE IS LOTS OF WISHFUL THINKING OUT THERE...

Both Government and Licensees:• Use certification to justify current forest management.

YET - Certification:• Builds indicators based ONLY on available data.• Does NOT consider trends into the future.• Is basically used by licensees to “certify” what they already do.

THERE IS LOTS OF WISHFUL THINKING OUT THERE...

1. We look for the best timber to harvest, and lobby to maintain (or increase) harvest levels.

2. We harvest while respecting rules and constraints.3. We strive to meet post harvest obligations ASAP at lowest cost.

BACK TO TYPICAL MGMT BY A TYPICAL LICENSEE:

This is a good way to integrate objectives for multiple values on a forested landscape!?!

RULES AND CONSTRAINTS IN A TYPICAL BC MANAGEMENT UNIT

Site plans Sustainable Forest Management Plans for Certification

Forest Stewardship Plans

TFL Management Plans

Timber Supply Reviews

Silviculture Strategies

Forest Operations Schedules

Habitat Supply modelling & Plans

Community Wildfire Protection Plans

IFPA Forestry Plans

Forest Health Strategies

LRMPs and LU plansGAR ordersLand use orders

Ecosystem Restoration Plans

Climate Change Strategies

IWAPCWAP

CURRENT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

BC’s forest management is:• Leading to declines in forest

diversity.

• Creating a growing understocked area.

• Not adequately addressing future timber supply problems.

• Harvesting high value species and reforesting with lower value species.

• Not dealing adequately with climate change.

THE HOLE…AUDITOR GENERAL…

10

We need to define and commit to:

• Clear timber objectives

• Stewardship principles

• Performance measures