Mack McColl
mack.mccoll.businesspulse
Although long term area based tenure has been a goal for First Nation’s in BC in recent years, the non-replaceable forest license(NRFL) model being offered by the province through its Direct Award Tenure program is proving more replaceable than first thought.
"Some of these agreements are in the third round of five year non-replaceable licenses, " said Keith Atkinson, CEO, First Nation Forestry Council. "Secure long term tenures have not yet been offered."
Despite the tenuous nature of NRFLs, the First Nations in B.C. currently have timber tenures under their management to the tune of approximately 15 percent of BC’s annual harvest. The BC government reports that of the 95 million hectares (ha) of landbase in B.C., about 60% or 55 million ha are forested, "of which 57 million ha are publicly owned. Of these public lands about 25 million ha are available for harvesting, while the reminder is in parks or reserves." To support the new level of First Nation participation in B.C. forests, the FN Forestry Council is engaged in development of training programs and recruitment in the forest sector, "We are dedicated to finding the resources for skill training and finding the partnerships that will support First Nation forestry."
The FN Forestry Council has found industrial partners in companies like BC Timber Sales, West Fraser Sawmills, Western Forest Products, Interfor and Canfor. We have educational partners that include the technical schools offering forestry training and specialized training programs like heavy equipment operator training. "First Nation forestry companies want the development of a skilled workforce and are part of the partnership list and First Nation ASET agreement holders are working at delivering regional level training and assisting with recruitment and student support services to provide regional guidance and operations to our program. Our job is to network these folks together across the province," in what amounts to a hectic environment but in the end is delivering skilled workers into the forest sector.
What the FNFC is doing at the grassroots level is building the social capital out of the current demographic, which is one of rapid population growth of First Nations all around B.C.. The FNFC which runs on limited funding presently has little time to talk about the larger picture because "our communities are far more involved in forestry than they were 10 years ago and now is the time for building on the opportunities to make new companies a reality all in support of this new workforce.
"Training and development is essential and requires coming at it from a couple angles and by partnering we will see it happen. Part of the enthusiasm in the forestry sector is taking a money-making position, but that's not the whole story. B.C.'s timber supply is being reduced. Impacts of the Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic remain a part of BC forestry issues being the leading cause of a decreased mid-term timber supply.
The current board of Directors at the FN Forestry Council is made up of Chief Bill Williams, Harley Chingee , and Chief Michael LeBourdais.
