Great news! North Cowichan Councillor Rob Douglas, has just let us know Resolution B 156 Regional Management of Forests, was passed this morning at the UBCM Convention in Vancouver.

This resolution is copied below.

Maybe now BC forestry will be above politics and regional British Columbians will have an important say in turning decades of decline around, and building a more secure forests future.

“RESOLUTION B 156 “REGIONAL MANAGEMENT OF FORESTRY, Municipality of North Cowichan”
“WHEREAS the forest industry in British Columbia has been on a steady decline in recent decades, with dozens mill closures, thousands of lost jobs and once thriving rural communities experiencing sever economic decline – due in large part to corporate mismanagement, misguided government policies, and lack of public oversight.

AND WHEREAS many communities across British Columbia and globally have demonstrated that when local people are empowered to manage forests and other important natural resources through community forest licenses, regional trusts and other community-based management models, there are significant social, economic and environmental benefits.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Province of British Columbia explore the feasibility of:

Adopting a new model of regionally-based forestry management–as outlined in the paper Restoring Forestry in BC: The Story of the Industry’s Decline and the Case for Regional Management by former B.C. Forests Minister Bob Williams—that will empower local communities;
Create a Forest Charter passed by the Legislature that includes an overall vision, sustainability principles, and standards for our forests; and
Appoint a Forester General to serve as a new independent officer who will report annually to the Legislature and work with the diverse regions of our province on local land planning processes.”

Now the most important work begins.