MANAGING RESOURCES FOR

SUSTAINABILITY
A little introduction.a little forestry
HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO WHAT WE
LEARNED LAST WEEK?
Canada is a vast, resource-rich nation
Given what youve studied of the regions, can you
think of some natural resources within each
province?
WHY DO YOU THINK, MANAGING THAT NATURAL
WEALTH IS ONE OF OUR KEY CHALLENGES?
Clear cutting as a forest practice.
Figure 9-10 p.329 of Horizons
Selective logging as a forest practice.
Figure 9-11 p. 329 of Horizons
TERMINOLOGY
Non-renewable resources:
resources that cannot be replaced
Minerals, fossil fuels

Renewable resources: resources
that can be replaced
Fish, forests, solar & hydro power
etc.

Sustainability: resource use that
meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their
own needs.

Stewardship: cooperative
planning and management of
environmental resources with the
goal of sustaining those resources
RICH ECOSYSTEM
Land area covered by BC Forests is
immense, comprising approximately 60
million hectares

Variations in climate, latitude, natural
disturbances, soils & terrains means
habitats for 40 different tree species and
diverse forests
Temperate rainforest along coast to
ponderosa pine forests on southern
interior & boreal forests of the
northeast
Mosaic of young and old growth
forests (120+ yrs old)

Many of BCs 1,100 species of birds, fish,
mammals, amphibians & reptiles live
within forest habitats for at least part of
their life cycle
some found nowhere else in Canada

Home to 1000s of species of plants,,
invertebrates, fungi and other organisms
In BC 85 species, subspecies &
populations have been established as
at risk

British Columbias Landscape: Figure 9-8
p. 327 of Horizons
BIRTH OF THE FOREST INDUSTRY
Forests have always been
important to First Nations
Relied on forest to meet economic,
cultural & spiritual needs
Early 1800s forests provided
masts & timbers of sailing ships
Forest ecosystems provided
valuable products, fuels &
construction materials to support
early fur trade, mining, &
agricultural settlement
Growing demand for building
material, railroad ties, pulp &
paper spurred development of
commercial forestry in early 20
th

Century


PROGRESSION TO SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
Initially few rules governing
forestry in early 1900s when
BC forests seemed limitless
Sometimes only best trees of the
best species harvested and
others left standing or
abandoned as waste
Harvested areas left to recover
on their own
Few obligations or laws
requiring sites to be reforested or
to minimize biological or
physical impacts
1910 provincial govt
commissioned a timber supply
inventory & recommendations
for better means to manage BC
forests
1912 Forest Act created the BC
Forest service
Clear Cutting
Reforestation
Tree Planting/Reforestation
PROGRESSION CONTINUES
In response to changing world
economies, technology and
public perceptions.
1945 new report contained a key
principle for long-term forest
management
Sustained yield: reforestation
practices capable of sustaining an
annual yield for a future industry
1978 Ministry of Forests Act
created a ministry to manage
Crown forests
Forests now to be considered multi-
use resources
Forest professionals would have to
work closely with other govt
agencies & show consideration of
such factors as agriculture, mining,
fisheries, recreation and wildlife
within their management plans
SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT
Management:
coordinating the efforts of people to
accomplish desired goals and
objectives using available
resources efficiently and effectively
Balancing the needs and values of
various stakeholders industry,
First Nations, general public, wild
life, environmentalists, tourists
1 million+ hectares protected as
approved wildlife habitat areas
Just a fraction of 1% of 60 million
hectares is harvested commercially

WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE FOREST
MANAGEMENT?
Maintenance &
enhancement of the
long-term health of a
forest ecosystem for the
benefit of all living
things while providing
environmental,
economic, social and
cultural opportunities
for present & future
generations.


CLASS ACTIVITY
In groups of 3 5 people brainstorm
Various ways in which forests are important under
the following headings: Economic, Environmental
& Social
Various stakeholders concerned with our forests (who
are they?)
1 person = recorder
1 person = reports back to class