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This is the second progress report on activities of the Scientific Panel for Sustainable Forest Practices in Clayoquot Sound. 1 It states the Panel's findings from the review of forest practice standards applicable to Clayoquot Sound as of January 31, 1994, and makes recommendations based on these findings.
In its first report (January 31, 1994), the Panel outlined Guiding Principles for forest management in Clayoquot Sound. 2 For this second report, the Panel used these Guiding Principles to evaluate current forest practice standards. Our recommendations seek to define forest practices that are scientifically sound, operationally achievable, measurable, enforceable, and safe.
This report includes our findings and recommendations related to forest ecosystem processes, such as watershed integrity and biodiversity, and cultural values, including First Nations, scenic resources, recreation and tourism. A subsequent report will address our findings and recommendations about transportation systems, silvicultural systems, and harvesting methods. The Panel's final report will refine the preliminary recommendations from its second and third reports to produce recommended new standards for sustainable forest practices in Clayoquot Sound.
Supporting documents produced by Panel members will provide a more detailed look at specific aspects of ecosystems, values, and resource use considerations in Nuu-Chah-Nulth history, values, and perspectives; the scientific basis of managing for biodiversity; and an examination of the Panel's Guiding Principles relative to emerging international standards.
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The Scientific Panel is charged with scientifically reviewing current forest
practice standards in Clayoquot Sound and recommending changes to existing
standards to ensure that these practices are sustainable. The Panel's goal, as
defined by Premier Harcourt, "is to make forest practices in Clayoquot not only
the best in the province, but the best in the world."
The terms of reference called for the Panel to provide specific forest practice
standards in its second report. If only an upgrade to current standards had been
required, this would have been possible. Early in the review process, however,
the Panel found that the current approach to forest management did not meet its
Guiding Principles. This finding changed the Panel's task from reviewing and
revising current standards to creating standards for a different approach to
forest planning and management in Clayoquot Sound. The new, holistic view of
ecosystem management 3 recommended by the Panel requires that forest practice
standards consider ecosystem effects and that they be integrated. For this reason,
this second report focuses on the findings from the Panel's review of current
standards in Clayoquot Sound, and on recommendations to guide the
development of new standards.
Although the terms of reference do not include issues of economic and
community sustainability, these concerns are closely related to sustaining the
area's forest ecosystems. It is the Panel's belief that forest practice standards that
ensure the sustained health and productivity of forest ecosystems in Clayoquot
Sound will provide the foundation for long-term economic and community
stability in the area.
Clayoquot Sound is a diverse environment with a rich history of settlement-first
by the Nuu-Chah-Nulth people and then by non-aboriginals. Some areas of the
Sound have experienced significant past disturbance; others remain virtually
untouched. This condition provides an opportunity to learn from the past and
apply that knowledge to the future. The presence of highly valued, undisturbed
forest ecosystems is strong incentive to improve planning and management.
Clayoquot Sound is a difficult environment in which to harvest timber because
of the severity of the terrain and the many valuable forest resources that must be
taken into account. Much of the area is steep, perhumid, and underlain by thin
soils. Mature and old-growth forests cover roughly 70% of the land base. Of
these forests, approximately 39% fall within General Integrated Management
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Areas and 35% in Protected Areas as designated in the Clayoquot Sound Land Use
Decision (1993). 4 Clayoquot Sound also supports major commercial and sports
fisheries, world-renowned recreation activities, and sites of historic and cultural
significance to the Nuu-Chah-Nulth. These conditions necessitate forest practice
standards that are stringent and comprehensive.
The Panel's review focused on the science of sustainable forest practices.5 We
include in "science" the lived experience of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth people. Their
direct observations over their long history in Clayoquot Sound have provided
useful reference and context for recent field observations.
The Panel reviewed many documents that guide forest planning, management,
and practices in Clayoquot Sound. This guidance takes various forms (e.g.,
written standards, standards of practice, guidelines, standard operating
procedures, planning procedures, circular letters). For ease of discussion in this
report we refer to all such guidance as "current standards."
The findings and recommendations contained in this document relate specifically
to Clayoquot Sound. Forests outside the study area were not explicitly
considered, although research and experience in similar British Columbian and
U.S. Pacific Northwestern coastal environments were reviewed.
Many communities have interests in Clayoquot Sound and its forest land use
and management regulations. Employment levels in the forest industry, which
strongly influence the communities of Ucluelet and Port Alberni, are directly
affected by forest planning decisions in Clayoquot Sound. The interests of other
residents in these communities and in Tofino - including fishery and tourist
operators, craftspeople, and property owners- are also affected, because forest
conditions affect their livelihood and quality of life.
Interest in Clayoquot Sound extends well beyond the immediate region. Logging
in Clayoquot Sound is an integral part of the corporate, export-oriented forest
industry that is a mainstay of the provincial economy. Industrial jobs and
investors' incomes elsewhere in the province (and beyond) are linked to
commercial timber harvesting and fishing activities in Clayoquot Sound.
The area has significant natural values, and environmental protection of
Clayoquot Sound has drawn attention across the province, the country, and
the world.
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Regulations to improve forest land use will not serve equally well the interests
of all communities. While recognizing the range of interests in Clayoquot Sound,
the Panel recommends precedence be given to sustaining ecosystems and
fulfilling the needs of local communities.
The long-term ability to sustain ecosystems and to achieve sustained, productive
use of the forest will depend, in part, on other activities in Clayoquot Sound. The
area's wild fishery is fully exploited. Tourism, wilderness and marine recreation,
fish farming, and residential property development are growing. Consequently,
the area's population is growing, and will continue to do so.
The quality of these and other of the area's activities depends on maintaining the
integrity of the forest environment. Reciprocally, maintaining the integrity of the
forest environment will require that these activities be constrained. The need for
a clean water supply, the capacity of the environment to assimilate waste, the
level of traffic disturbance, and the limited land base all will limit the degree of
economic development that can be undertaken without threatening ecosystem
health.
These conditions mean that both the local communities and the world must
recognize limits to the supply of resource goods from Clayoquot Sound. The
standards proposed by the Panel will constrain the allowable wood harvest
and will also limit other activities. These standards will influence certain job
opportunities and returns on investment that may be expected from the region.
The transition from a history of managing for a few resources to managing for
sustainable ecosystems will affect local communlties whose livelihood depends
on current levels of resource extraction. Equitably distributing the benefits and
costs of resource use and environmental management will be made easier by
maximizing the number of economically and socially acceptable jobs, and
establishing industries that produce higher value-added products using local
resources in sustainable ways. While these goals lie beyond the terms of
reference of the Scientific Panel, they are nevertheless important to the success
of its proposals.
The Panel has met 11 times since its formation on October 28, 1993, on each
occasion for two to four days. The Panel made its first field trip to Clayoquot
Sound in early November. The seven meetings between October, 1993 and
January, 1994 produced an operating protocol and set of Guiding Principles6 for
sustainable forest practices, which were presented in the Panel's first report.
In subsequent meetings, the Panel reviewed and evaluated current forest practice
standards in Clayoquot Sound to identity the extent to which they meet the
Panel's Guiding Principles. The Panel made a second field trip to the study area
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in early February to view practices carried out under previous and existing
standards. Individual Panel members made other trips during this period to
better understand the area's natural ecosystems, to determine requirements for
sustaining them, and to understand how current standards are applied in the
field.
In developing the philosophy that would guide its work, the Panel reviewed
existing and emerging international standards and agreements. These included,
but were not limited to, the World Commission on Environment and Development;
documents from the United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED) 1992 7: Framework Convention on Climate Change,
Convention on Biodiversity, Agenda 21, and Guiding Principles on Forests; the Forest
Stewardship Council Principles and Criteria of Natural Forest Management; and the
International Tropical Timber Organization Guidelines for the Sustainable Management
of Natural Tropical Forests.
The Panel's Guiding Principles provide a consistent and meaningful framework
for evaluating current standards in Clayoquot Sound. They embody the Panel's
belief that forest practices must not compromise ecosystem integrity, cultural
values, or the options and opportunities of future generations.
Section 1 of this document describes the Scientific Panel's terms of reference and
the context for the review of current forest practice standards.
Section 2 presents the Panel's general findings from the review. The Panel has
made recommendations for change where existing standards have been found
deficient.
Section 3 explains the changes needed to make the transition from forest
products management to sustainable ecosystem management.
Section 4 presents findings and recommendations specific to Clayoquot Sound on
four subjects:
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This section introduces some of the ecosystem processes and the
interrelationships between water, terrain, soil, flora and fauna in Clayoquot
Sound. Goals and objectives to maintaln these processes are presented, and
current forest practice standards are reviewed against these goals and objectives.
Section 5 discusses four key issues in Clayoquot Sound arising from the review:
including First Nations, forest planning, undeveloped watersheds, and Special
Management Area boundaries.
Appendices to the report include: Scientific Panel Guiding Principles, a list of
Scientific Panel Members, a list of the forest practice standards reviewed, and a
glossary.
1.1 Terms of Reference of the Scientific Panel
The current approach to forest management does not meet the Panel's Guiding Principles.
The terms of reference do not include issues of economic and community sustainability.
1.2 Context for the Review
Clayoquot Sound is a difficult environment in which to harvest timber.
1.3 Communities Affected
The Panel recommends precedence be given to sustaining ecosystems and fulfilling the needs of local communities.
Standards proposed by the Panel will constrain timber harvesting and limit other activities.
1.4 Panel Activities and Progress
1.5 Organization of this Report
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