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The Professional in Professional Reliance 60 th BCWF AGM and Conference April 22, 2016 Mike Larock, RPF Director of Professional Practice and Forest Stewardship
The Professional in Professional Reliance
60th BCWF AGM and Conference
April 22, 2016
Mike Larock, RPF Director of Professional Practice and Forest Stewardship
1. Who is the Forest Professional 2. Role of Forest Professional in
forest resource management 3. Professional Reliance
4. Our common goal
Plan to Discuss
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Who is a Forest Professional? • specialized knowledge and experience
• provide advise, direction,
judgement on the
management of forests,
forest lands, forest resources
• Foresters Act and Bylaws
Association of BC Forest Professionals
• Regulator of the forestry profession in BC since 1947. • Right to title and right to practice legislation. • ABCFP membership is 5400+ (largest in Canada.) • Forest professionals work in all areas of natural
resource management including oil and gas, forestry, mining, hydro, IPPs, parks and recreation.
• Members hold positions from technical forestry practice through senior management.
• Forest professionals are integral to the management of BC natural resources (55 million hectares of forest.)
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Exclusive Practice
Self-Regulation
Competent Practice
Public Interest
The Public Trust
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Role of the Forest Professional Value in Professional Service – Keeper of Forests • Understanding of complex issues and
environments • Application of science
– Interveners – Conservators
• What we know • What we apply • What context
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What do you want from your forests?
“forestry is …the art of producing from the forest whatever it can yield for the service of man."
”the sustainable management of forests to provide the greatest good, for the greatest number, in the long run.” (Gifford Pinchot)
Example: Salvage 1 million m3 of Norway spruce sawlogs stored 4 years. Byholma, Sweden. http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/pubwarehouse/pdfs/28632.pdf
Social License = authority + credibility + trust
A Growing List of Expectations
Both ends of the gap I am expected to bridge
are changing rapidly: the body of knowledge
that I must use, and the expectations of the
society that I must serve. (Schon, 1983)
• The forest professional does not decide the forest land use
• The forest professional does affect the outcomes
The Forest Professional • Obligations FRPA • Revenue obligations • Access obligations • Employment
responsibilities • Other resource users • Team builder
(participant)
• Science knowledge • Apply science in
Operations • Independence • Professional judgement • Perspective (time and
size) • Innovation
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“the practice of accepting and relying upon the decisions and advice of professionals who accept responsibility and can be held accountable for the decisions they make and the advice they give.” Definition of Professional Reliance.
Professional Reliance
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Professional Reliance
PR = Rely on judgement x Accountable Judgement = direction, advice, decisions (knowledge, training, experience) Accountable = answerable beyond employment (member of regulated profession)
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Professional Reliance
PR = Rely on judgement x Accountable
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Professional Reliance affected by: • Professionals are not assigned to the task • Judgement is constrained in the options • Social decisions and choices are already made • Professionals lack knowledge and understanding • Professionals do not act in the public interest
Professional Reliance
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Work Safe BC – Occupational Health and Safety Heritage Conservation Act Finance and Administration Water Sustainability Act
You Don’t Hold Professionals Accountable
Comparison Report - Complaints/Investigations/Discipline
Membership Complaints Discipline #/1000 #/1000
Engineers 23,025 1.2 0.3
Pharmacists 4,150 33 0.4
Doctors 10,377 96 0.8
Lawyers 10,987 108 13.8
Foresters 5,507 1.6 0.2
Based on 3 year average 2006/2007 to 2008/2009
Our Common Goal
We care about forests, ecosystems and forest resources. We practice good forest stewardship. We advocate for wise use and conservation of forest resources.
There is one Land
Change (environment, ownership, social values)
How does this compel us to advise and manage?
What is the right balance in our judgment & decisions?
Opportunities
Establish a stronger relationship
Help us advise forest professionals regarding interests of BCWF
Lets advance understanding and knowledge
Collectively advocate for good forest
stewardship
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Thank-you
Questions or Conversation?
Contact Mike Larock RPF 604-331-2324
Check us out www.abcfp.ca
