Comments on other ongoing government processes and initiatives are summarized here to indicate perspectives on issues that may influence timber supply in the future.
Protected Areas Strategy
One respondent says it is preferable to assume that timber in the Upper Kispiox and Seven Sisters study areas is unavailable for harvesting. Two other submissions say people have worked for 20 years to establish these protected areas and yet the possibility of success is not acknowledged in the timber supply analysis. This may set the scene for a strong reaction from the forest industry, in one individual’s view.
Another submission questions the 12 per cent goal for protection, saying that, despite its wide use, this goal has no scientific basis.
Forest Practices Code
One respondent says implementation of the Code must change to a results-driven, rather than regulation-driven, format.
land claims
One submission says it is unreasonable to assume land claims will not be settled or, if they are, that timber harvest opportunities will not be lost.
Another respondent states that the level of allowable timber harvest and the manner in which it is apportioned and licensed have a direct effect on the Gitxsan First Nation’s exercise of their aboriginal rights.
