The province is proposing a ‘working forest’ model — but what does that mean?
asserted
that → propose → what
Advocates and experts raising concerns over 'no-net-loss' approach
B.C.'s Ministry of Forests announced last Tuesday it would begin piloting its new Working Forest Landscape Model.
asserted
it → raise → Model
The model aims to support the province’s goal of an annual timber harvest of 45 million cubic metres, while reducing industry red tape, such as cutting permits.
asserted
model → aim → permits
It will be tested out in an area near Campbell River, by splitting forests into three zones: a working forest zone, a multiple-use zone and a conservation and protection zone.
asserted
It → test → zones
The system is designed to work in tandem with forest landscape plans (FLP), according to the province.
uncertain
system → design → province
The pilot marks the beginning of the province's exploration phase, the ministry said, noting it will be a multi-year process before the model is fully implemented.
asserted
model → mark → phase
Instead of relying on individual cutblock permits for Crown land, this model would divide areas in the province into three zones.
asserted
model → rely → zones
A working forest zone would prioritize commercial timber harvest.
asserted
zone → work → harvest
Forestry companies operating within it would be able to plan for the broader area from the start rather than incrementally adding more cutblocks.
asserted
companies → operate → cutblocks
This would help alleviate inefficiencies in the permitting process, so forestry workers "finally have a stable land base," said Forest Minister Ravi Parmar.
asserted
Parmar → help → base
A multiple-use zone would have various functions aimed at "the restoration and enhancement of biodiversity and ecosystem functions," such as wildfire mitigation, according to the province.
uncertain
zone → have → province
And a conservation and protection zone would ensure "long-term ecosystem function and biodiversity through protected habitat and conservation networks."
asserted
zone → ensure → habitat
Parmar said the model addresses a problem he described as "cutblock by cutblock permitting" by providing certainty over where forests can be logged through an area-based management approach.
asserted
forests → say → approach
Under the new system, the province would explore a "no-net-loss" principle, which would see new land added to a zone if land is removed from it.
asserted
land → explore → it
"If you take from the working forest, you [give] back to the working forest.
asserted
you → take → forest
If you take from your conservation zone, you add back into the conservation zone," explained Parmar.
asserted
Parmar → take → zone
It’s that aspect of the model that has some advocates and experts concerned about sustainable forestry.
asserted
advocates → ’ → forestry
It’s not yet clear how the province would decide what land is added to the working forest zone if an area within it is later marked for protection.
asserted
area → ’ → protection
B.C. to pilot forestry model to assist industry, improve wildfire mitigation
UNBC launches engineering PhD to advance research in environmental and resource management in the north
Ken Wu, executive director of the Endangered Ecosystems Alliance, said he's concerned that could put ecologically valuable forests at risk.
uncertain
he → pilot → risk
It's a worry shared by Annie Booth, University of Northern B.C. professor in environmental and sustainability studies.
asserted
It → share → studies
She described the zoning issue as allocating the most "diverse, rich ecosystems" the same way as it allocates "big timber."
asserted
it → describe → timber
"The new plan will simply allow forestry companies to liquidate the last remaining stands of harvestable wood," she said in an email.
asserted
she → allow → email
Harry Nelson, a University of B.C. professor in forestry and environmental stewardship, said those concerns are grounded, but the outcome depends on how the province rolls the model out.
asserted
province → say → model
It could provide more certainty around harvesting, he said, but how that’s achieved is the remaining challenge.
uncertain
achieved → provide → harvesting
He added that he questions whether the province has the "tools or capacity" to address that challenge, particularly as environmental, economic and social pressures differ between communities.
asserted
pressures → add → communities
“I think the road to peace in the woods lies through communities, not through Victoria,” he said.
asserted
he → think → Victoria
Why is the province doing this now?
asserted
province → do → this
Parmar said he's focused on balancing those concerns with the need to deliver a "sustainable working zone" for the industry.
asserted
he → say → industry
According to the province, the model is a response to the "ongoing pressures" faced by B.C.’s forestry sector.
uncertain
model → accord → sector
Those pressures include limited access to wood fibre, climate-driven wildfires, timber market volatility, rising operating costs and U.S. lumber tariffs.
asserted
pressures → include → fibre
CBC Explains
How Trump’s lumber tariffs made a bad situation worse in B.C.
Forestry giant behind idled B.C. mill received millions in government funding
Parmar said the model would give the industry more consistent access to timber, while bringing First Nations to the table earlier in decisions about how forests are managed.
asserted
forests → explain → decisions
Huu-ay-aht First Nations Chief Councillor John Jack said area-based planning gives First Nations a greater role in coordinating forestry efforts and weighing areas for protection, habitat, wildfire mitigation and harvest.
asserted
planning → say → protection
The forestry sector, he said, also has a direct effect on the economic resources available to First Nations that depend on the industry, like his own nation located just south of Ucluelet.
asserted
that → say → Ucluelet
"Getting involved in business means that we help create value and share in the value that’s created to help pay for things like community infrastructure, housing, early childhood educators, daycares, trauma-informed counsellors and beyond," said Jack.
asserted
Jack → get → infrastructure
The model has been floated in varying forms since the 1990s, according to several experts.
uncertain
model → float → experts
Advocates have pointed out that the B.C. NDP opposed a similar model when the B.C. Liberal party brought forward its own working forest initiative more than 20 years ago.
asserted
party → point → initiative
"The B.C. NDP supported our efforts to stop the working forest initiative under the B.C. Liberal government and we succeeded by 2004 with the NDP’s help," recalled Wu.
asserted
Wu → support → help
But Parmar pushed back against that characterization.
asserted
Parmar → push → characterization
"[The B.C. Liberals’] approach to forestry was to gut the principle that matters most to people and forest communities, and that is local logs for local jobs," he said.
asserted
he → gut → jobs
Parmar said his party’s opposition at the time was to the B.C. Liberals’ broader approach to forestry, including allowing more raw logs to be processed outside of B.C., rather than the principle of a working forest itself.
asserted
logs → say → forest
The Aporia
