Symposium reflects changes in forestry, challenges for future

Julia Prinselaar, Westerly News March 10, 2011
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Few could argue First Nations are now at the forefront of forest resource management in Clayoquot Sound.

This truism came as no surprise to those attending the Clayoquot Sound Scientific Panel Symposium -- a four-day conference reflecting changes in the last 15 years of regional forestry management and practice.

The question lies in how to respect those changes while sharing commonly held resources, says Dr. Richard Atleo, chair of the symposium, which took place in Tofino and Ahousaht March 3 to 6.

"We have problems here, in Clayoquot Sound. The principle that can be captured in all of these problems is the problem of relationships," he said.

In April 1993, then-BC Premier Mike Harcourt announced the Clayoquot Land Use Decision, leaving approximately 74 per cent of productive ancient forest in Clayoquot Sound open for logging.

Public reaction sparked a historic logging road blockade in Clayoquot Sound over the summer of 1993 that included 12,000 protestors and 850 arrests.

Harcourt then appointed the Scientific Panel for Sustainable Forest Practices in Clayoquot Sound.

Two years later, the panel listed 125 recommendations on forestry practices -- which the government accepted.

Since the recommendations -- which prioritized local First Nations perspectives and introduced concepts such as ecosystem-based management, variable-retention silviculture systems, watershed level planning, and adaptive management -- logging in Clayoquot Sound has seen a change of hands in forest tenure ownership.

In April 2005, the Central Region Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations took over 100 per cent ownership of Iisaak Forest Resources Ltd., which owns and operates forest tenures that cover a total land base of approximately 91,200 hectares in Clayoquot Sound, according to the company website.

Iisaak is owned by the Central Region's five First Nations bands (Ahousaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Hesquiaht, Yuu-cluth-aht and Toquaht) through Ma-Mook Natural Resources Ltd.

Gaining control of natural resources for local First Nations communities was a significant step toward autonomy and self-governance, according to Dave Jacobson of Iisaak.

"What we have today, are five First Nations bands who are represented by the people. We have the right and responsibility to determine what happens in our territory when it comes to forestry," said Jacobson.

Members of the central First Nations community mirrored Jacobson in support of the industry's shift out of corporate hands and into the local community.

"We are not fighting logging...We were fighting how they were doing it," said Cliff Atleo, head of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC).

"Iisaak is going to log, but not like they used to," he added, referencing corporate forest giants such as Weyerhaeuseur, which formerly held tenure in the area.

In 1999, Iisaak signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with an alliance of environmental groups, including Greepeace Canada and the Sierra Club of BC.

The MOU commited Iisaak to protecting large pristine areas in its portion of Clayoquot Sound, while environmental groups agreed to help market Iisaak's wood.

According to the Friends of Clayoquot Sound, Iisaak has applied for a road-building permit in intact, ancient rainforest on Flores Island.

The environmental group also says that portions of Flores Island, home to the Ahousaht First Nation, have been flagged for logging.

Speaking on behalf of the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, partial owners of Iisaak, band councilor Saya Masso said systemic issues are contributing factors that result in Iisaak logging for zero profit.

"We haven't seen any benefits except paying debt," he said, while shaking his head.

In 2005 and 2007, Iisaak bought Tree Farm Licences 57 and 54, at a cost of millions of dollars.

He attributes the lack of profits to the lack of intrinsic value for old growth trees and the cost of road maintenance, annual rent and license fees.

Masso said possible solutions could include a legislated retention level, a temporary halt on annual license fees as well as a model based on carbon credits.

Alternative avenues: conservation financing

Some B.C. communities have turned to economic models that generate revenue by preserving natural resources, rather than extracting them.

The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation is currently pursuing the carbon credit market for its Haa'uukmin Tribal Park, according to Terry Dorward, councillor for Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation.

The park includes conserved tracts of land and portions for human use such as eco-tourism and micro-hydro projects.

"We're very interested in developing a conservation economy," said Dorward.

He outlined four elements to secure local community employment in the park, including natural resources and non-timber products, green energy projects, education and eco-tourism as well as economic independence to preserve land and traditional values.

The Great Bear Rainforest model

Extending along the central coast of British Columbia and the northern tip of Vancouver Island, the Great Bear Rainforest achieved a set of agreements in 2006, resulting in a $120 million funding package for conservation management projects and ecologically sustainable business ventures for First Nations.

The 2006 agreements had four components with key milestones: legislation of more than two million hectares of forest protected from logging; new lighter touch logging regulations applied outside of protected areas; support for conservation-based economies in coastal communities and strengthened First Nations involvement in decisions affecting their traditional territory.

"Those agreements...would not have happened without the leadership of the First Nations," said Eduardo Sousa of Greenpeace Canada.

Sousa and Gerry Fraser from International Forest Products Ltd. (Interfor) made the case for diplomacy while presenting the Joint Solutions Project, a collaborative initiative between environmental groups and forest companies to implement the Great Bear Rainforest Agreements.

"We have learned that in this form we have been able to carry on dialogue," said Sousa.

Fraser and Sousa presented what they say are key criteria in achieving the main goals of high degrees of ecological protection and human well-being, including government transparency and stability, collaboration, adaptive management and monitoring, and creative thinking.

"We do so in the spirit of collaboration. We do so in the spirit of respect," added Sousa.

The Nanwakolas Council, a group of nations from northern Vancouver Island and adjacent mainland coast has been working with the provincial government on the Great Bear Rainforest management plan.

Dallas Smith, council president, says First Nations must maintain a large role in resource management.

"It's the people in these ecosystems that really matter," said Smith, who added communities must be willing to participate and have the ability to deal with confrontation while negotiating.

"[First Nations] people must gather that comfort and strength learned in their culture and take that to the table of governments," he said.

Theory exists, practice lacks

Fifteen years into implementation of the recommendations made by the science panel, challenges remain in implementing a monitoring and adaptive management program.

Bill Beese of Vancouver Island University and Glen Dunsworth, an ecological consultant, facilitated a group discussion in Ahousaht say that community involvement is key.

"There has to be a way to close the loop," said Beese, meaning that unless all parties involved are committed to change, it will be difficult to make progress.

John O. Frank, Ahousaht chief councilor, contends First Nations self-governance is a milestone achievement that cannot be compromised.

"There's always strings that are attached to that kind of [conservation] financing where we don't have a total say on how we want to see the funding allocated," said Frank in a January interview with the Westerly News.

"When you have your own independence of [Tree Farm License] 54, you have that independence and how that [money] is going to be spent."

The entire conference was peppered with presentations from First Nations community leaders, including elders, who highlighted the intrinsic importance of gathering knowledge and perspective from community members on a grassroots level.

"We as a community in terms of our ways and values have a lot to share," said Cliff Atleo, head of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council.

Echoing his sentiments was Ucluelet municipal councillor Bill Irving, who was mayor of Ucluelet when the science panel made its recommendations.

Irving spoke about identity and the values that communities bring to discussions.

"Do not forget that people lived here before the panel and they will continue to live here after," said Irving.

"They have collective values and wisdom that needs to be respected."

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