Morice, Summary of Public Input

Public Review Process and Response

Morice Forest District staff actively solicited public input on the Timber Supply Review in the Morice Timber Supply Area through the following actions:

• copies of the three documents were mailed to approximately 60 organizations and businesses active within the Morice Timber Supply Area, as well as to members of the Forest District Advisory Committee

• a letter accompanying the mail-out offered group or individual meetings to discuss the Timber Supply Review. The Discussion Paper also included a response form, which readers were encouraged to complete and return to the district manager

• First Nations were offered information meetings to discuss the Timber Supply Review;

• two information sessions were held with representatives from the forest industry and local government (see Table 1)

• an open house was advertised extensively through a direct mail-out and newspaper and radio advertising

• newspaper articles were encouraged, and one was published by the local weekly newspaper

As Table 1 shows, about 35 individuals attended the information sessions and the open house. The Morice Forest District received one completed response form and three written submissions (see Appendix 1). The Morice Timber Supply Area licensees commissioned Timberline Forest Inventory Consultants to critique the Timber Supply Analysis. Two submissions based on that critique were made: collectively, they will be referred to as the "licensee review" in this summary.

Table 1: Participation in public information activities

During development of the data package in 1993, meetings were held with representatives of the major licensees. First Nations were invited to meet and discuss the Timber Supply Review process during the development of the Socio-Economic Analysis. Of the six First Nations groups with territories within the district, three met with the consultant preparing the analysis.