Forests publications

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Canada's Rainforest: Status Report 2005

This is the final of three status reports analyzing the scope and type of logging and ecological value of proposed protection in Canada’s temperate rainforests, an area known as the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). Visit our online interactive report to view our findings, or use our maps to view photos and statistics on current logging sites. The site can be viewed at www.canadianrainforests.org.

Final Report (PDF 398k)

The Coastal Temperate Rainforests of Canada: The need for ecosystem-based forest management

In April 2001, government and industry promised to explore how to implement environmentally-responsible logging practices and planning in British Columbia’s magnificent coastal rainforests. Recently completed land use planning processes have recommended improving forest management practices to more environmentally responsible methods defined as Ecosystem Based Management (EBM). To determine how current logging practices compare to EBM, the David Suzuki Foundation conducted an audit of recently approved logging plans across four Forest Districts: North Coast, Central Coast, Kalum and Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). Our assessment underscores the degree to which current logging practices fail to meet agreed-upon EBM standards; firstly, clearcutting remains the dominant method of logging, and, secondly, small fish-bearing streams remain unprotected.

This paper was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal
Biodiversity 5(3): 9-15, 2004

Abstract
Full Article

Canada's Rainforest: Status Report 2004

This report analyzes current forestry practices and planning in British Columbia's coastal rainforest to determine how they must change in order to fulfill the spirit and intent of the April 4th, 2001 agreement between government, First Nations, industry, environmentalists, and local communities. It can be seen at www.canadianrainforests.org.

Also available in PDF format:

Executive Summary

Full Report

A Vanishing Heritage: The Loss of Ancient Red Cedar from Canada's Rainforests

Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is profoundly important to coastal aboriginal people and the coastal temperate forest ecosystem. This report revealed that in twenty forest management areas on the B.C. coast, a much greater amount of red cedar is being logged than its proportion within the forest inventory. This report examines the extent to which red cedar is being logged on the B.C. coast, and looks at what will happen if current practices continue.

Full Report

BC Forests 2003: An appraisal of government policies

The B.C. government is radically overhauling the regulations and legislation that control forestry, largely on public lands, in Canada's Pacific province. And while changes are well underway, the government has not released the draft regulations so that British Columbians can appraise the proposed program. This report by Patricia Marchak and
S. Denise Allen examines the planning and discussion papers, proposals
and legislation that are available, and makes recommendations
regarding the government's plan.

Full Report

Salvaging Solutions: Science-based management of BC's pine beetle outbreak

This report reviews the current understanding of lodgepole pine and mountain pine beetle ecology and management. The goal of the report is to evaluate the current approach of mountain pine beetle management and identify more ecologically appropriate alternatives based on the scientific literature and other available information. Salvaging Solutions focuses on management within the timber harvesting landbase, on the understanding that protected areas must remain unlogged, both to meet the regional conservation objectives and to provide opportunities for understanding unmanaged forest ecosystems.

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A Cut Above: Ecological Principles for Sustainable
Forestry on BC's coast

outlines nine principles to guide the development and implementation of ecologically sustainable forest practices in coastal British Columbia. Drafted with help from an advisory team of leaders in the field of ecological sustainability, these guiding principles illustrate a fundamentally different approach to forest management and planning in comparison to the current, industrial model. The report provides an ecological rationale for each principle, as well as examples of “best practices” drawn from existing frameworks in other jurisdictions to illustrate realistic models of how the principles can be applied on the ground. Also detailed are relevant current practices in British Columbia and key areas of ecological uncertainty that exist regarding each principle.

Report Summary
Full Report (1.34MB)
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Falldown: Forest Policy in British Columbia
Dr. Patricia Marchak argues that there is a better way to manage BC's forests and forest industry and to create jobs while conserving the forests. In this report she demonstrates that current forestry management is not only destroying the timber base, on which a healthy forest industry depends, but is contributing to a host of other problems. Forest companies are losing money, workers in the industry are being laid off, and forest-dependent communities are in a state of economic crisis. Without a new commitment to conservation, these problems will continue.

Executive Summary (304K)

Sacred Cedar: The Cultural and Archaeological
Significance of Culturally Modified Trees
Ancient culturally modified trees (CMTs) are archaeological testaments to aboriginal logging practices and forest use. Found primarily in old-growth cedar stands along the coast of British Columbia, these trees have great cultural, spiritual, and anthropological importance. Arnoud Stryd and Vicki Feddema point out that protecting these treasures has and will change modern forestry practices. (1999)

Executive Summary (246K) Full Report (1.3M)