2021 R27 – De-Centralizing Forest Management on Vancouver Island & Coastal BC

Whereas the forest sector in British Columbia has been on a steady decline in recent decades, with dozens of mill closures, thousands of middle-class jobs lost, and once-thriving rural communities experiencing severe economic decline;

And whereas many communities across British Columbia and globally have demonstrated that when local people are empowered to manage public forests and other resources through community forest licenses, regional trusts and other community-based governance models, they can enhance environmental sustainability and climate change resilience, provide stable and fulfilling employment, improve equity and fairness, and advance meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples;

And whereas the region of Vancouver Island, Sunshine Coast, Powell River, the North Coast and the Central Coast (“Vancouver Island and the Coast”) would be well-suited for a pilot for a de-centralized forestry management model because of its strong record of success in community-based forestry management, exceptional local interest in forest practices, and history in land use planning at a macro-regional level:

Therefore be it resolved that AVICC call on the Province of British Columbia move to establish a de-centralized forest management model for Vancouver Island and the Coast that will empower local people in decision-making, and, as a first step, appoint a Forester General for the region who will undertake the following actions:
• Consult with First Nations, local communities, labour unions, industry, small business, and the broader public on current challenges with the Vancouver Island and Coast forest sector;
• Carry out region-specific analyses of the opportunities to increase employment and value-added manufacturing, restrict raw log exports, improve environmental sustainability, enhance climate change resilience, expand recreation and tourism, and advance meaningful reconciliation with First Nations;
• Develop a regional land use plan for Vancouver Island and the Coast based on broad consultations; and
• Recommend next steps for empowering Vancouver Island and the Coast in the management of forestry and related resources.