In Topic 1, we saw how concerns about the future of the Northern Spotted Owl in Pacific Northwest forests had resulted firstly in a major reduction in the rate of harvesting from federal forest lands and subsequently in the introduction of ecosystem management. These changes were closely watched in Canada, particularly in neighboring British Columbia. The flashpoint in British Columbia occurred when a mass protest against the logging of old-growth forests occurred at Clayoquot Sound in the summer of 1993. In this topic, you will learn more about what led up to these protests, and the scientific panel that the Government of British Columbia established to look at the concerns raised by the protesters. You will see how the Panel’s recommendations changed logging practices over a huge area of coastal rainforest stretching along the western coast of British Columbia.
There is a major difference between the management of coastal rainforests in the USA and Canada. While the USA favoured ecosystem management, Canada has developed a variant know as ecosystem-based management. This is quite similar to ecosystem management, but is also concerned about the well-being of human communities in a region, and seeks to balance the maintenance of ecosystem processes with the maintenance of human well-being.
The text provides some background to forest management practices in British Columbia. It also provides links to some excellent resources on ecosystem-based management. In the presentation, I explain why the old-growth rainforests of the coast stir up so much emotion, focusing on some of the wildlife found there. These forests cover a huge area, and many communities are dependent on them. Can they be developed in a way that preserves their beauty and ecological integrity?
George, P. (2006).Big trees not big stumps: 25 years of campaigning to save wilderness with the Wilderness Committee. Vancouver: Western Canada Wilderness Committee. ISBN-10:1895123038; ISBN-13: 978-1895123036
Schoonmaker, P.K., von Hagen, B., & Wolf, E.C. (Eds.). (1997).The rain forests of home: Profile of a North American bioregion. Washington DC: Island Press. ISBN-10:1559634804; ISBN-13: 978-1559634809
Self-test
Quiz Description:
The self-test quiz is designed to check your understanding of important learning concepts for this topic. The quiz contains ten multiple choice questions. There is no time limit for you to take the quiz and you may attempt to take it as many times as you like. After you click the Submit button, you will see your Grade, number of Correct Answers, your answers, and the Answer Key for each question.
Quiz Instructions:
While you are taking the quiz, we advise you not referring to any course materials. After you Submit your answers, you may self-reflect the missing points, review relevant contents as necessary, and retake the quiz again until you get the full points.
When you are ready, click the link Topic Quiz 1.2or go to left menu > Quizzes > Topic Quiz 1.2 to start taking the quiz.
Activities & Assignments
Online Discussion Module 1
If you haven't already done so, once you have read Chapters 1 and 2 of Innes, J.L. and Tikina, A. 2017. Sustainable Forest Management: From Concept to Practice, post one thought provoking question related to the development of sustainable forest management, and remember to answer/respond to at least one other student’s question on the discussion board Online Discussion Module 1. While you are only required to post one question and answer per module, we encourage you do so for each topic, and you will receive a higher grade if you do.
Assignment #1: Six Sentence Answer #1
Please refer to the course pages on graded assessments to see details of the Six-sentence Answers (6SA) exercise. You should not attempt to do this assessment until you have read and fully understood the requirements.
The Case
For this assignment, and the others associated with this course, we will be asking you to play a variety of roles related the sustainable management of the forests in the Clayoquot Sound area of British Columbia. As you now know, this area has been a flashpoint for many issues surrounding the management of British Columbia's forests, particularly its majestic old growth forests. These temperate rain forests are rich in biodiversity, but also contain significant amounts of very valuable timber. The area has been occupied by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years, and no treaty has ever been signed ceding rights to the Canadian or provincial governments.
In this assignment, you are a forest manager who have been assigned by the government to assess the best practices for forest development in the area. Your government employer has asked you to assess the best practices that might used to allow forestry developments to occur within the area. Please use the six sentence answer format to argue that any forest development in the area should follow the principles established by the Clayoquot Sound Scientific Panel.
Put your name (Family or last name, followed by your first name), student number, the title “Topic 1.1 assignment”, and the date at the top of the first page.
Name the e-file: your Family or last name_your first name_ Topic 1.1_Assignment.doc (or .docx). Example: Innes_John_Topic 1.1_Assignment (or .docx).
Standard English usage, clear writing style.
All assignments should be submitted through Canvas before the deadline.