Sustainable Development: Opportunities and Challenges in Aboriginal Forestry

1
Sustainable Development Opportunities and
Challengesin Aboriginal Forestry
CANDO Conference October 17, 2002 Edmonton,
Alberta
Presentation by Brian Wilson, Director,
Programs Division Canadian Forest
Service Natural Resources Canada.
2
Presentation Outline

• Sustainable Forest Management
• Opportunities and Challenges
• Emerging Trends
• Key Federal Supports
• NRCans Initiatives
• Future Directions

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Why Sustainable Forest Management?

• Majority (80) of Aboriginal communities are
  located in productive forest areas for many,
  forest-related activities is the basis for
  community health and sustainability.
• Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) is key to
  ongoing benefits for future generations (social,
  economic, environmental)

4
Opportunities and Challenges

• Increasing forest land base (Claims, Treaty Land
  Entitlements, Access to Provincial Forest
  Tenures)
• Major forest development projects (e.g., Northern
  Alberta, Saskatchewan, Québec)
• Changing labour market (replacement of retiring
  workers, changing job skills)

5
Some emerging trends in Aboriginal forestry

• Partnership and joint venture arrangements (e.g.
  First Nations Limited Partnership, Wapawekka
  sawmill, Fort William FN Bowater sawmill)
• Diversification - Value-added businesses (e.g.
  Eagles Nest Log Homes)
• Growing governance capacity (e.g. Nisgaa, North
  Shore Tribal Council)
• Forest certification (e.g. Pictou Landing FN)

6
Key Federal Support for Aboriginal Forestry

• Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
• First Nation Forestry Program (joint with INAC)
• Sustainable Communities Initiative
• Model Forest Program
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
• Resource Access Negotiations Program
• Resource Partnerships Program
• Resource Acquisition Initiative
• Regional Partnership Fund
• Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)
• Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy
• Youth Employment Strategy
• Aboriginal Business Canada (ABC)
• ABC business program

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NRCans Forestry Initiatives

• First Nation Forestry Program
• To improve economic conditions in status Indian
  communities with full consideration of the
  principles of sustainable forest management
• Capacity building and economic development
  projects
• A partnership program between INAC, NRCan, and
  First Nations
• 1148 projects 83 million invested ( 96/97
  01/02)
• Over 65,000 person weeks of work
• 4,800 First Nations with forestry job experience
• 106 forest management plans
• 90 feasibility studies and 114 business plans
• http//fnfp.gc.ca

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NRCans Forestry Initiatives Contd

• Sustainable Communities Initiative
• Build strengthen capacity in rural, coastal,
  Aboriginal northern communities by providing
  geomatics training geospatial information
• A partnership program
• 65 projects
• Commenced in 2000
• http//sci.gc.ca

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NRCans Forestry Initiatives Contd

• Canadas Model Forest Program
• Entering Phase III (2002 2007)
• Innovation in sustainable forest management
  through partnerships (industry, governments,
  Aboriginal communities, environmental groups etc)
• 11 model forests, one of which is Aboriginal
  (Waswanipi Cree Model Forest)
• Significant Aboriginal participation (8 Model
  Forests)
• http//www.modelforest.net

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Future Directions - Where is NRCan heading?

• Expanding Aboriginal participation in Model
  Forests Program
• Renewal/enhancement of the First Nation Forestry
  Program
• Increased advocacy and program outreach

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In Summary.

• Aboriginal forestry presents many opportunities
  and challenges
• NRCan is working through partnership to increase
  Aboriginal participation in sustainable forestry
  management opportunities
• Opportunities for increased collaboration with
  Aboriginal communities and institutions in
  forestry management research, best practice
  applications, and in advocacy.