What are your views of the Future of our Forests? ..

British Columbia is rich in land and resources, in particular our forest lands. There are many
_ differing values and views of the forests, and many opportunities for the use of our forestan
- range land resources. es |

_ Views on the management of these resources are varied and often diverse because people place

different values on the way they, and others, use the forest. Some of the issues regarding forest —

- landsinclude:
| * community economic dependency;

timber harvesting; _ .

* traditional aboriginal practices;

® quality and quantity of fish and wildlife;
“© water quality;

* environmental quality;

® recreation and tourism;

© wilderness preservation; and

* range-forest interface.

When these activities are not compatible, difficult land and resource use decisions have to be

‘ made. The B.C. Forest Resources Commission needs to understand how the forests are viewed
by the citizens of the Province and how the public can be involved, so that we can plan for the
integrated use of the forests. | | ae

~ Inthe words of the Minister of Forests, “... many of the issues I must deal with are brought

about because we have no clear view of exactly what the forests of British Columbia represent....

I view this to be of paramountimportance because I believe that until we havea generally
accepted vision, it will be extremely difficult, ifnotimpossible, to resolve many of the other

issuesfacingus.” : . |
The Commission wants your views on the future of British Columbia’s forests through
the 1990s and into the 2 | I

st century.

The Process oe oe —
The Commission is currently requesting written submissions from British Columbians. This
ohave submitted written briefs, Based on these submissions and the community meetings,
the Commission will prepare an Options Paper outlining alternatives and their implications for
B.C.’s forests. Adraftof the Options Paper will be distributed in the Fall, 1990 and you will be
asked for your response to this Paper ina second series of meetings. Your commentsand
suggestions will be included in the final statement which will form the basis of future planning
and decision making for the Commission. 7

Spring, community meetings will be held in locationsacross the Province to hear from all those
w

Timing

March 16, 1990 Written submissions due, -_
April-May, 1990 Community meetings to obtain input from the public
June-August, 1990 Develop Options Paper with alternatives and implications
September, 1990 Distribute Options Paper to the public a
Mid September to Community meetings to discuss Options Paper

mid October, 1990

Winter, 1990-1991 Submission to Minister of Forests

The First Step : Write us now

_ Your written response must be to us by March 16, 1990so that community meeting locations
and times can be established. |

_ How to Submit .

The Commission wants to hear from British Columbians. We are asking you to write a letter or

prepare a formal briefand fax or mail your submission to:

The British Columbia Forest Resources Commission
700, 747 Fort Street Fc ce
Victoria, B. C. V8W3E1

Attn; Derrick Curtis oo
Phone:356-7885 Fax: 356-7888

_ The Commission wants the widest public inputpossible. We encourage you to submityour
written material now. Besides hearing from those who submit written materials, there will only
be limited time for others who wantto make presentations during the community meetings.

The Commission’s Mandate

The British Columbia Forest Resources Commission was
established by the Minister of Forests on June 29, 1989.
The Commission's anindependent body reporting tothe
Minister with a mondate fo review and make recommendations
onawide range of issues of concern.
The Commission has been given four specific tasks:

#{o recommend ways B.C.'s forest and range lands
may be managed to protect and enhance differing values;
*toraviewthe effactiveness of Tree Farm Licences
as o form of tenure;
#fo recommend ways to improve public participation in
forest planning and management; an
© foreview and recommend woys to improve forest
harvest practices, focussing on clear-cutting a
..-.. associated forest practices and their impacts.

Commission Membership
Chairman: Mr. A.L.(Sandy) Peel

Commissioners:
© Peter Burns, Q.(., dean, Faculty of Low, U.B.C.
Roger Freeman, M.D., cochaimon, Recreation and Conservation
Committee, Federation of Mountain Clubs of 8.C.; Director, Outdoor.
Recreation Council of B.C.
® Joyce Harder, moyor of Lillooet and businesswoman
. © David Hoywood-Farmor, rancher -
Bob Kennedy, PhD., dean, Faculty of Forestry, U.B.C.
@ Jack Monro, president, WAConada
© Carmen Purdy, president, Kootenay Wildlife Heritoge Fund;
industrial relotions manager, Cresthyook Forest Industries; and
former president, 8.C. Wildlife Federation
Tho Honorable Bob Rogers, 0.C, former Lieutenant Governor
of British Columbia ond retired forest industry executive =
© Cyril Shelford, former MLA ond retired businessman

_-oleba Szaver, registered professional forester and retired manager, |

Casfboo Forest Region, B.C. Forest Service
© Mott Vickers, member, Tsimshian Tribal Council

Executive Director: Mir. Derrick Curtis