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   First Nations cultures have long inhabited the rich temperate rainforests along what is now the Pacific Coast of B.C., and they continue to look to forests today for economic, environmental and spiritual values. On Vancouver Island, 7 per cent of the total population of more than 700,000 has aboriginal ancestry, about double the proportion for B.C. as a whole. The province recognises that First Nations have traditionally and culturally used cedar, and many coastal groups still do today. Forest companies frequently take steps to help First Nations obtain cedar logs or other species from their harvest areas for traditional or cultural purposes. The logs are used for a variety of purposes, including canoes, totem poles, masks and long houses. The new Forest and Range Practices Act will continue to require that forest companies determine whether their proposed activities will impact First Nations interests by providing information regarding operational plans and amendments to First Nations.  Modern day treaties and protocol agreements are being negotiated in B.C. to resolve First Nations rights and to clarify resource management issues. At the same time, the B.C. government is committed to increasing opportunities for First Nations participation in the forest economy.In 2002, the government passed legislation to allow the direct allocation of tenure to First Nations. To date, 3 timber-harvesting agreements have been signed with 5 First Nation bands along the coast. Across the province, government also plans to reallocate about 8 per cent of the allowable annual cut so it is available to First Nations under forestry agreements. |
  As well ass meeting the high forest management standards demanded by government and British Columbians, forest companies in B.C. also have Canada's highest level of third-party certification, which gives customers added assurance they are supporting responsible and sustainable forest management. Across the province, forest operations on more than 50 million hectares (over 123.5 million acres)of land are either managed under the International Standards Organisation's environmental management system or certified under the Canadian Standards Association, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative or the Forest Stewardship Council. On the coast, more than half of the allowable annual cut (or 12.5 million cubic metres) is from lands certified under CSA, SFI or FSC, and more than 15 million cubic metres are also managed under the ISO system. In the late 1990s, a number of forest companies operating in B.C. proactively began to certify their lands. In 1999, Weyerhaeuser's North Island Division was the first operation in Canada to be certified to the CSA's sustainable forest management standard. In 2001, Iisaak Forest Resources in Clayoquot Sound became the first Tree Farm Licence in British Columbia to be certified to FSC standards. Although no single certification system has emerged as the widely accepted standard, customers of B.C. forest products continue to support certification efforts and achievements in British Columbia. |
