People in qathet region are invited to provide input to help inform the next stage of the Sunshine Coast forest landscape plan (FLP).
According to a media release from the provincial ministry of forests, the FLP is being co-developed with First Nations, with input from communities, subject-matter experts and forest licensees. FLPs are a new approach to forest stewardship that establish clear direction for the management of old growth, biodiversity, ecosystem health, climate change, watershed health, wildfire risk and other forest-related values, the release stated.
The FLP area includes the Sunshine Coast timber supply area and portions of the Pacific timber supply area, encompassing roughly 1.25 million hectares of land from Howe Sound in the south to the summit of Mount Waddington (BC's highest peak) in the north. The area features some of the most biologically diverse forests in British Columbia and overlaps the territories of 15 First Nations, according to the release.
The Sunshine Coast FLP is one of four pilot projects in the province. They are replacing current stewardship plans that are developed by industry, with the goal of better managing forests for multiple values, including climate change, wildfire, wildlife habitat, watershed management, forest health and areas of cultural importance, in addition to timber supply.
A questionnaire regarding the development of the FLP is available online: submit.digital.gov.bc.ca/app/form/submit?f=b5e6f8f5-4a74-42b8-939f-ae3d3d6ecb9a.
In-person open-house sessions are also planned for the region to share information about forest landscape planning. A session is scheduled for qathet on December 5, from 5:30 to 8:30 pm, at the ARC Community Event Centre, 7055 Alberni Street.
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