On this podcast we often talk about managing the forest for ALL values, equally, in a way that benefits all interests. Community forests may hold some answers. How do engage the public in a meaningful way? How do we embody cultural, recreational, and environmental values in forest management? How do we do collaboration right? The good folks of Wells Gray Community Forest might have some answers.
Your Forest Podcast by Matthew Kristoff
Community Forests with George Brcko
Episode highlight
George Brcko speaks about the role of community forests in paving the way to a sustainable future.
Resources
Wells Gray Community Forest:
Use of LIDAR for Forest Inventory and Forest Management Application: https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/gtr/gtr_wo077/gtr_wo077_193.pdf
Sponsors
West Fraser: https://www.westfraser.com/
GreenLink Forestry Inc.: http://greenlinkforestry.com/
Damaged Timber: https://www.damagedtimber.com/
Giveaway
Enter YourForest10 at checkout at the Damaged Timber store for a 10% discount!
Quotes
12.55 - 13.09: “That’s the core of community forests - local control over local resources enjoying the monetary and nonmonetary benefits offered by those local resources that we manage.”
30.18 - 30.26: “Bring the people back into the forest. They think that they’re separated from it and industry is the one that controls it. Well, that’s not the case.”
Takeaways
“Forestry is an incredibly complex career” (04.44)
George’s passion for forestry began in his childhood growing up on an Ontario farm. Living in BC now, he acknowledges the scope and complexity of forest ecosystems there. He was personally driven to do this work because of forestry’s spiritual ties to the natural world, an interest furthered when he discovered the slower and more connected community forest world.
The intersection of science and spirituality (09.42)
George explains that community forests are small tenures held by communities, including indigenous communities across BC, represented in the Community Forest Association. This network of people shares the same vision, management practices and understanding of the forest. The profits from forestry go back into studying the community’s forests. Only taking 3-4 cut blocks a year, they manage the landscape with First Nations values.
By the people, of the people, for the people (17.25)
George’s community forest in Clearwater is one of 63 in BC, managed by the community instead of by the district. The board and the society are made up of locals removed from political influence. Collaboration with the First Nations community is essential in the management and profitability of community forests and is beneficial to both indigenous and settler communities.
A balancing act (22.34)
George explains that the tenure of Clearwater’s community forest is sizeable enough (13000 hectares) for recreational facilities to come up. The community works with recreational professionals to ensure sustainable practices and economic development. The tenure was made available to Clearwater because the government saw its potential to manage public expectations.
Bringing communities back into forestry (32.13)
George shares that communities manage forests differently than the industry does, with reductions, cuts and values like old-growth management. The industry does purchase many resources from the activities of the community forests, and this generates revenue for communities to invest in their people.
The educational role of community forests (37.01)
George talks about how community forests manage the community’s landscapes, including the watersheds. Each community decides how they will manage their local forests through local decision making based on their unique values and priorities, and are liable for the consequences, thus creating natural leaders. More than half have 50% indigenous ownership.
Playing with fire (40.25)
Fire management, says George, is a big concern for community forests and they put their effort into fuel management, burning techniques and retrieving burn areas. Old Growth Management Areas (OGMA) especially need proper fire management, which comes from the combination of science and traditions in First Nations Community Forests.
We do need some education (45.00)
The outreach work done by the community forests includes public meetings, education sessions for citizens and children and awareness campaigns. The Clearwater community forest wants to tie up with the public education system in BC to teach people what they have forgotten about forestry and bring knowledge and interest about forests back into people’s lives through kids.
The Good Forest (47.44)
George is driven by the work he does because he has seen the worldwide good that surplus profits from community forestry can do - invest in things the community values, protect vulnerable populations, enable reinvestments in reforestation and hydrology, provide grants for community projects, create recreational avenues, and supplement schools with equipment.
Let’s do better, let’s go again (54.41)
George acknowledges the debates around clear-cutting and how he incorporates those in the work that he does. There has been opposition from some members of the community and that has driven him to create a public interface group to create awareness, educate and bridge gaps. He does not agree with the government’s approach to clearcutting.
The story in the numbers (1.07.45)
George keeps the data on his community forest up-to-date using the most recent technology and laments that provincial data does not always match local data. He admires Alberta for its inventory technology and hopes that BC will get there soon. He notes the connection between the economy, forest research and forestry activities.
First Nations leading the way (1.14.33)
Even though George recognizes that community forests will never take control of BC, they do play an important role in the community. Some First Nations community forests even use the 7-generational model to study the impacts on the next 7 generations. Wells Gray Community Forest hopes to learn from the CFA’s which have FN leadership for this objective.
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