Arrow IFPA Series: Note 1 of 8: A framework for sustainable forest management

Abstract

This extension note is the first in a series of eight that describes a set of tools and processes developed to support sustainable forest management planning and its pilot application in the Arrow Timber Supply Area (TSA). Conducted under the Arrow Innovative Forestry Practices Agreement (IFPA) Sustainability Project, and initiated by an interdisciplinary team of academics and practitioners, the “Sustainable Forest Management Framework” offers a comprehensive approach to forest management planning that is also applicable in other parts of British Columbia. Throughout the planning to monitoring process, it uses criteria and indicators as a means of developing and implementing forest management strategies with clear goals and objectives. In this way, forest practitioners can achieve measurable and effective results for identified forest resource values. The framework also incorporates a hierarchical planning process to address these goals and objectives at various spatial and temporal scales, and is supported by a suite of decision-support tools and procedures, including scenario planning, integrated modelling, public multicriteria analysis, and trade-off analysis. Within this framework, public participation is integrated throughout the planning process.During the life of the IFPA, aspects of this framework were tested in the Arrow TSA and it has been used operationally as part of Canfor?s certification effort. Although this approach has received strong support from academic and management circles and promises to provide an objective approach to sustainable forest management, some features have not yet been implemented. The proposed framework is a work-inprogress that evolves as more components of the framework are tested and outcomes evaluated.

Public attitudes toward sustainable forest management: Opinions from forest-dependent communities in British Columbia

“…management plans developed under these frameworks recognize the role of non-timber products and amenity values (e.g., outdoor recreation, aesthetics, or botanical products), and surpass existing regulatory requirements that incorporate public participation in the development of criteria and indicators of SFM (e.g., Montreal Process Working Group 1999; Jeakins et al 2006). Sustainable forest management plans also articulate strategies for monitoring management practices to ensure that sustainability requirements are met (Canadian Standards Association 2002;Forest Stewardship Council Canada Working Group 2004).…”

“…Regional or strategic-level planning creates broad goals and objectives, and typically involves stakeholder groups and members of the general public, as in the development of land and resource management plans. Tactical-level planning typically occurs at the operational scale and can require F specialized information, some of which can be provided by forest certification PAGs (Jeakins et al 2006). However, while the number of forest certification PAGs has increased dramatically over the past decade, and although the public holds the legal right to comment on proposed harvesting and roadbuilding plans, there are as yet few formal processes in place to obtain broad public input at a community level in British Columbia.…”

“…Inexpensive alternatives, such as public opinion surveys, have the ability to complement direct approaches by canvassing a broad spectrum of the public, hearing from elements of the "silent majority," and providing opportunities for quantitative analysis of public and stakeholder attitudes and values (Beckley et al 1999;Beckley et al 2006). A combination of such participatory approaches will address the various levels of planning that public participation informs: the strategic level (i.e., development and adoption of broad standards and guidelines), the tactical level (i.e., spatially explicit objectives and information management), and the operational level (i.e., localized and detailed plans that guide on-the-ground actions) (Jeakins et al 2006).…”