Section 3 - p.14 [Previous Section] [Next Section] [Table of Contents]
The Panel's general findings on current forest practice standards in Clayoquot Sound make clear the need for a new approach to management. Deficiencies in current standards relate primarily to the context in which decisions are made, rather than to the implementation of forest practices. For example, current standards governing road construction lead to well-constructed roads; they do not, however, guide the larger question: "Given the slope position, gradient, parent material, and climate, should the road be constructed here at all?"
Historical approaches to forest management have focused largely on products rather than on the biological systems from which these products derive. In Clayoquot Sound, as elsewhere in British Columbia, sustaining timber production has historically taken precedence over maintaining forest ecosystems.
The Panel believes that forests should be managed as ecosystems, rather than as potential products.
The Panel believes that forests should be managed as ecosystems, rather than as potential products, and that forest practices should not put at risk the long-term health of forest ecosystems. "Sustainable ecosystem management" is characterized by resource management practices that are scientifically based, ecologically sound, and socially responsible. In Clayoquot Sound, sustainable ecosystem management also incorporates the traditional ecological knowledge and values of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth.
The goal of sustainable ecosystem management is to maintain the integrity of ecosystems. Achieving this goal requires maintaining ecosystem components and ecological processes that enable the land, water, and air to sustain life, be productive, and adapt to change.
The objectives of sustainable ecosystem management include: maintaining soil formation, stability, and productivity; maintaining water quality, flow, and channel integrity; and maintaining biodiversity. Failure to maintain these processes and states may lead to failure to sustain a flow of products from the forest and failure to protect cultural, scenlc, recreation, and tourism values.
Human needs are one of many considerations in designing management activities. The needs of current generations should not supersede the needs of future ones. The protection of ecosystem components and maintenance of ecosystem processes and productivity must take precedence over all other management objectives.
In the long term, managing forests as ecosystems is the best way to secure a supply of timber and other products from the forest, and to sustain British Columbia's multitude of other forest values.
Section 3 - p.15
The shift from managing forests for products to managing forests as ecosystems
is significant and far-reaching. To achieve sustainable ecosystem management
objectives, a change in current planning processes is needed. Planning must be
long term and inclusive. It must begin at the provincial level and progress to the
local level. At each level, sustaining ecosystem productivity and biodiversity
must take precedence over specific product outputs.
Social, environmental, and economic dimensions of resource management must
be incorporated into the planning process. Provisions must exist for determining
levels of resource extraction within the limits prescribed by ecosystems. In
Clayoquot Sound, planning should consider the territorial boundaries, resource
ownership, and stewardship, represented by the Nuu-Chah-Nulth term
"HaHuulhi."10 HaHuulhi is the traditional system of land and resource
management centering around ownership and stewardship of specific sites
and their resources by hereditary chiefs. All the lands, waterways, shorelines
and offshore sites, except for relatively remote areas far inland, fall under this
system of ownership, control, and resource use.
Government, industry, and local communities must be involved effectively in
resource management decision-making. The benefits and costs of resource use
and environmental management must be equitably distributed. Because
Clayoquot Sound is their homeland, the Nuu-Chah-Nulth must be directly
involved throughout the planning process and in day-to-day management.
Only such involvement will ensure that First Nations retain cultural and
spiritual benefits, and receive economic benefits from resources of their
traditional territories.
Sustainable ecosystem management is a new endeavour and requires new
approaches. We must learn quickly how well these approaches work. The best
way to improve our management approaches and procedures as we gain
experience and knowledge is to practice adaptive management.
Adaptive management involves three key steps or procedures. First, the
management practice itself is treated as a rigorously designed, replicated
experiment. Second, the outcomes of the practice are monitored and compared
to anticipated or predicted outcomes. Third, a feedback procedure is developed
so that practices are changed when outcomes do not match anticipated results.
Each step or procedure is necessary to ensure that knowledge is gained and
practices improve.
Section 3 - p.16
Adaptive management has been applied effectively to fisheries management but
not yet to forest management. It is costly to do well, but still more costly to
implement new practices without careful monitoring or mechanisms to modify
the practices.
The transition to sustainable ecosystem management will require many levels
and types of education and training. There are currently too few professional and
technical personnel available to plan, conduct, and monitor activities associated
with forest management in Clayoquot Sound.
Education is required to increase the knowledge base of all stakeholders.
Training is required to convert that knowledge into usable skills that can be
applied to forest practices. Education programs must address the needs of
everyone from planners and supervisors to machine operators. These programs
must clearly explain ecological processes and silviculture practices, and support
the explanations with field studies. They must also explain and demonstrate
rules and guidelines along with the opportunities for, constraints on, and
consequences of implementing them. Finally, they must make clear the link
between sustainable ecosystem management and the processes of resource
extraction that occur on the land.
To keep the education process current, there must formal feedback from field
personnel, managers, and industry to government, scientists, and educators.
The absence of feedback systems in the present educational process must be
recognized as a serious flaw, rather than a minor issue.
Education must both upgrade the knowledge of the current workforce and
increase the number of qualified workers on the ground. Programs are required
to develop and modify policy over time, to monitor the effects of forest practices,
to conduct research, and to practice adaptive management. These programs will
require staffing by appropriate personnel. Disciplines such as archaeology and
anthropology, not well integrated in forest management in the past, must be
represented in these programs.
Forest planners, managers, and workers will need new skills to adapt to an
interdisciplinary, team-oriented management approach. Training must include
subjects such as group problem-solving, consensus-building, and conflict
resolution. A team approach will also require shifts in attitudes about resources
and disciplines and how they interrelate. Training should encourage professions
to share information, ideas, and decision-making among disciplines.
Section 3 - p.17
To successfully implement sustainable ecosystem management will require
support for change from labour, industry, public interest groups, and
government. As a society we must redefine institutions, worker training,
products, markets, and attitudes-along with planning and administrative
functions. A phase-in period will be required, during which open
communication and a commitment to common goals among all stakeholders will
be critical.
3.1 Long-term, Inclusive Planning
Provisions must exist for determining levels of resource extraction within the limits prescribed by ecosystems.
3.2 Monitoring and Adaptive Management
Management approaches and procedures must improve as experience and knowledge are gained.
3.3 Education and Training
Education must upgrade the knowledge of the current workforce and increase the number of qualified
workers on the ground.
3.4 Support for Change
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