Whereas BC local governments have called for changes to forest management to: ensure the sustainability of the resource; protect old growth; provide for greater consultation and engagement on forest policy decisions; improve accountability in tenure management; strengthen compliance and enforcement; ensure that forest policy decisions are bmased on the best technical and scientific information available; and provide transition support for impacted forest workers and communities; And whereas on June 1, 2021, the Province released its Modernizing Forest Policy in BC Intentions Paper recommending many of the forest policy changes sought by UBCM members; and, subsequent to the Independent Panels Old Growth Strategic Review, the Province also announced on June 24, 2021 the establishment of an independent Old Growth Technical Advisory Panel to: - improve public information around old growth; - inform government-to government decisions with First Nations on future deferrals;and - provide recommendations and advice on priority areas for development of deferrals that will assist government-to-government engagement: Therefore be it resolved that the Province engage and consult with local governments and Indigenous communities as it moves forward to implement recommendations within the Modernizing Forest Policy in BC Intentions Paper, including matters related to old growth designations and deferrals, recognizing that there will be implications and impacts for workers and communities that will require economic transition support.
Ministry of Forests Government seeks to engage local government leaders in the different components of modernizing forest policy as we move forward. This is expected to include, but not be limited to: a similar format to the nine virtual engagement sessions held in July 2021 where we introduced the topics and had discussions on forest policy changes and sought input both in the session and after the session in writing. UBCM worked with the Province to host and deliver engagement sessions in October and November 2021. Early policy ideas and options that were presented for initial discussion with local government leaders during the engagement sessions included: Conservation related: - A new biodiversity target framework - Setting ecosystem health as a management priority - Transition planning for communities - More inclusive governance Management and forest sector related: - Advancing a process to minimize slash burning - Re-integrating prescribed fire - Developing a timber sales program for value added manufacturers - Strengthening compliance and enforcement in forestry - Revising area-based tenure- specific pricing policy - Evolving BCTS policy for maximum sales restrictions Transforming the forest sector and forest management in BC is complex and we look forward to the thoughtful ideas and input that local government leaders bring to this work.