Introduction and Overviews
Executive Summary — PDF print versionThe State of BC’s Forests
Introduction and Overviews
Executive Summary — PDF print version
Forests figure prominently in the well-being of British Columbia’s environment, economy and communities. Ensuring sustainable forest management is therefore vital to the province’s health on many levels.
Assessing progress in achieving sustainable forest management is challenging not only because the subject is complex, but also because of the varying opinions and viewpoints people bring to the topic. An understanding of current conditions and trends, and of the adequacy of information to assess them, provides a basis for informed decisions.
This report is part of the Ministry of Forests and Range’s efforts to enable assessment of sustainable forest management. The purpose is two-fold:
Detailed information and assessments are provided for 12 of 24 indicators grouped into three broad categories: environmental, economic and social, and governance and support. Not all data are current to the year 2006 – the date of data varies from the year 2000 for some indicators to 2006 for several. Overviews are provided for the remaining 12 indicators that will be fully developed in future editions.
Information and the ministry’s assessments are provided for 5 of 10 environmental indicators: Ecosystem diversity, Protected forests, Ecosystem dynamics, Species diversity, and Genetic diversity. The assessments are summarized in Figure 1.
British Columbia’s rich natural resources include vast and diverse forests. In terms of forest types and ages, most of this diversity still exists 150 years after the start of European settlement.
A reasonably representative 10% of the province’s forests are in protected areas. These and other forest areas provide large tracts of natural habitat, undeveloped areas for scientific study and wilderness for recreation. Some forest types are threatened by development.
Since 1950, the dynamics of B.C.’s forest ecosystems have changed with increasing wildfire suppression, timber harvests and climate change. These changes may reduce ecosystem stability and resilience, and disrupt future economic activity. The unprecedented magnitude of the current mountain pine beetle epidemic demonstrates the potential impact of such changes.
British Columbia has a rich diversity of species, and most forest-associated species have healthy populations. Populations and ranges of some species have expanded, while declining habitat quantity and quality has reduced populations of other species, in some cases putting them at risk. Management responses have increased over the past two decades.
A wide range of environmental conditions has led to great genetic diversity in the more than 40 tree species found in B.C. Genetic gains in timber growth and pest resistance are increasingly included in reforestation. Insects, fires and climate change are expected to damage some genetic reserves and installations.
Despite concerns about changes in ecosystem dynamics and continuing pressure on threatened and endangered species, the prospects for environmental sustainability in British Columbia’s forests are positive.
Substantial databases have been assembled for these five indicators. Available information is only partially adequate for assessing sustainable forest management for four of the five indicators.
Environmental Indicators |
State |
Trend |
Information |
|
1. Ecosystem diversity |
 good |
 mixed |
 partial |
| 2. Protected forests |
good |
 improving |
partial |
| 3. Ecosystem dynamics |
 mixed |
 deteriorating |
partial |
| 4. Species diversity |
mixed |
deteriorating |
partial |
| 6. Genetic diversity |
good |
mixed |
 adequate |
FIGURE 1. Ministry of Forests and Range assessments of environmental indicators.
Information and the ministry’s assessments are provided for 5 of 10 economic and social indicators: Ownership and management, Timber harvest, Silviculture, Jobs and communities, and First Nations involvement. The assessments are summarized in Figure 2.
Most of British Columbia’s forests are owned by the provincial government on behalf of all British Columbians. First Nations claim aboriginal rights and title to many areas of the province. Operational management of timber harvests and other uses is delegated to tenure holders with a variety of rights and obligations.
Much of B.C.’s economic development in the 1800s and 1900s depended on the forest sector. After a century of rapidly increasing timber harvest, the level of cut stabilized in the 1990s and is forecast to be sustainable. However, significant decreases in some local timber supplies are expected.
With B.C.’s high level of public ownership, most silvicultural activities such as reforestation have depended on government policies or funding. Silvicultural practices have evolved over the past 30 years, improving conservation of biological diversity, reforestation, and the volume and value of future timber supplies.
Employment in the forest sector has remained fairly stable while the province’s economy grew and diversified. Provincial dependence on the forest sector has therefore decreased, but many rural communities are still highly dependent. They are also vulnerable to downturns in timber product markets and the impacts of the current mountain pine beetle epidemic.
The involvement of First Nations people in the timber-based economy has increased in recent years and is expected to grow further. While First Nations participation in forest management has increased, many issues regarding aboriginal rights and title remain to be settled.
Despite some localized timber supply problems and the need to complete treaty negotiations with First Nations, the prospects for economic and social sustainability in British Columbia’s forests are positive.
Many of the information needs for assessing sustainable forest management are being met for these five indicators, but some gaps remain.
Economic and Social Indicators |
State | Trend | Information |
| 11. Ownership and management |
mixed |
mixed |
adequate |
| 13. Timber harvest |
good |
mixed |
partial |
| 14. Silviculture |
good |
mixed |
partial |
| 18. Jobs and communities |
mixed |
mixed |
adequate |
| 19. First Nations involvement |
mixed |
improving |
adequate |
FIGURE 2. Ministry of Forests and Range assessments of economic and social indicators.
Information and the ministry’s assessments are provided for two of four governance and support indicators: Law and Certification. The assessments are summarized in Figure 3.
British Columbia’s forest law is designed to support sustainable forest management. The province’s legal framework includes compliance and enforcement activities, public reporting by the independent Forest Practices Board, and systematic monitoring and assessment of the law’s effectiveness.
Forest certification led by non-government organizations complements the governance provided by B.C.’s legal framework. British Columbia’s forest industry has pursued forest certification to maintain access to markets and demonstrate the province’s high quality of forest management.
British Columbia’s forest law and progress on forest certification support sustainable forest management.
Many of the information needs for assessing sustainable forest management are being met for these two indicators. Information on the effectiveness of governance and support is still in an early stage of development.
Governance and Support Indicators |
State | Trend | Information |
| 21. Law |
mixed |
improving |
partial |
| 24. Certification |
good |
improving |
adequate |
FIGURE 3. Ministry of Forests and Range assessments of governance and support indicators.
The information presented in this report enables a partial assessment of British Columbia’s progress towards sustainable forest management.
The Ministry of Forests and Range assessed the state of 7 of 12 indicators as “good.” Five indicators were assessed as “mixed,” or having some good and some poor conditions.
Trends for 4 of 12 indicators were assessed as “improving.” Six indicators were assessed as “mixed,” or having some improving and some deteriorating trends. Two indicators were assessed as “deteriorating.”
Information for 5 of 12 indicators was considered “adequate” for assessing the indicators’ state and trend. Seven indicators were deemed to have only partially adequate information, typically because one or more important pieces of information are not available.
The Ministry of Forests and Range’s assessment identifies many positive attributes of the resource base and substantive accomplishments. It also shows that there are some significant challenges ahead to ensure sustainable forest management in British Columbia.
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