North Cowichan Council has reaffirmed its commitment to the development of a Municipal Forest Reserve (MFR) co-management plan with the Quw’utsun Nation, and to prioritize ecological and conservation principles in response to public feedback.
“Our forests are a defining part of North Cowichan,” said Mayor Rob Douglas “By recommitting to co-management with the Quw’utsun Nation, we are choosing a path that prioritizes sustainability and cultural respect. I am grateful to the Quw’utsun Nation and to residents for their engagement and advocacy. Your contributions have shaped this important decision.”
In August, Council adopted a direction to pursue five new strategic priorities for the last year of their mandate, following April’s byelection. These new priorities – resuming forestry harvesting, servicing industrial lands, a procurement policy review, an asset management plan, and a review of the servicing improvements required for the community – were endorsed, with staff tasked with reporting back on funding and resourcing options and implications.
Between 2019 and 2023, North Cowichan undertook a comprehensive review of its forestry program that included technical scenario analysis, public engagement, and collaboration with the Quw’utsun Nation. A Memorandum of Understanding was established with the Quw’utsun Nation with the aim of fostering collaboration and open information exchange to guide the stewardship and use of the MFR for the benefit of the broader community. Public engagement, which included a statistically valid telephone survey, found that two-thirds of respondents chose either active conservation or passive conservation modelling scenarios from four scenario options.
In May, a consultant was selected to lead the North Cowichan/Quw’utsun Nation co-management framework process. Quw’utsun Nation members signalled a pause in this process following the August announcement regarding the resumption of forest harvesting.
Council received a report on November 19 that outlined the impacts of forest harvesting, including the cost to restaff the municipal forestry department, development of a forest management plan, as well as the compromising of ecological and conservation values, and a risk to public trust by moving away from the direction outlined in the 2023 public engagement. More significantly, the report underscored the need to continue developing a co-management framework with the Quw’utsun Nation, to consider the principles outlined in the MOU, and outlined the potential damage to the continued move toward long-term, respectful relationships with the Quw’utsun Nation and other Indigenous neighbours and partners. Following a discussion, Council voted to complete the co-management framework and plan in partnership with Quw’utsun Nation prior to reconsidering forest harvesting as a strategic priority.
The Quw’utsun Nation members have been advised of this direction, and it is hoped that work on the co-management plan can resume as soon as possible.
For more information on the Municipal Forest Reserve and the review visit connectnorthcowichan.ca/mfr