MUC researcher receives $237,100 research award
Dr. Jeremy Rayner leads regional research team to promote policies that
better integrate different uses and values from Canada's forests
Nanaimo, June 20, 2006 – Principal Investigator
Dr. Jeremy Rayner, Professor and Chair, Malaspina University-College,
will receive $237,100 over two years to promote policies that better integrate
different uses and values from Canada's forests through the analysis
of three western Canadian case studies. This award is part of a $3.3 million
investment over three years made by the Government of Canada through a
Network of Centres of Excellence, the Sustainable Forest Management Network
(SFMN), in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and New Brunswick.
The investment coincides with the opening of the SFM Network's
fourth scientific conference, being held at the Shaw Conference Centre
in Edmonton. More than 300 participants, representing the forest industry,
provincial governments, First Nations, and non-government organizations,
as well as forest practitioners and researchers from Canada and abroad,
will discuss the latest developments in integrated land management, evolution
of sustainable forest-dependent communities, water-management strategies,
public participation in planning processes, natural disturbance management
and emulation, climate change adaptation, and tenure reform.
Policy makers have become increasingly concerned about the cumulative
impacts of multiple resource industries operating on the same land base
where each works in its own self-contained planning “silo”.
Integrated land management policies (ILM) offer a way to break down these
silos. The team's recommendations will be based on extensive comparative
studies of successful ILM policy designs in Canada and abroad.
In British Columbia, the team will study the impact of the Mountain Pine
Beetle infestation on the Cariboo Chilcotin Land Use Plan, one of the
first regional land use plans to be adopted in the province. Partnering
with the BC Forest Practices Board, the research team will focus on the
challenges to long-term ILM planning posed by catastrophic events such
as the beetle infestation. The Alberta case study will focus on the development
of voluntary agreements with oil and gas licensees in the forest management
area (FMA) held by Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. aimed at reducing
the footprint of resource development. The team will assess the implications
of extending these kinds of agreements to other FMAs, including those
held by Weyerhaeuser and Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd and determine
the appropriate role for the Alberta government in such an arrangement.
The Manitoba case will study the Southern Hardwood Development Project
that involves a partnership between First Nations, industry and all levels
of government in an area with existing forestry activities and significant
wildlife management and community sustainability issues. In all three
cases, the team will be assessing the role of federal government agencies
in ILM, particularly with respect to Canada's international commitments
in the area of climate change and biodiversity conservation.
Dr. Rayner's proposal went through an extensive scientific peer-review
process and received support from Environment Canada, Natural Resources
Canada—Canadian Forest Service, Government of Alberta, Government
of British Columbia, Government of Manitoba, and the Alberta Forest Products
Association as well as forward-thinking forest companies including Alberta-Pacific
Forest Industries Inc., Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd. and Weyerhaeuser
Company.
Dr. Rayner will be supported by Dr. Keith Brownsey, Policy Studies,
Mount Royal College, Dr. Michael Howlett, Political Science, Simon
Fraser University, Dr. Darcy Mitchell, Centre for Non-Timber Resources,
Royal Roads University and Professor Chris Tollefson, Faculty of Law,
University of Victoria.
About The Sustainable Forest Management Network
The Sustainable Forest Management Network facilitates collaborative, applied
research partnerships among 32 industry, government, Aboriginal, and non-government
partners in supporting the work of more than 190 researchers. Their research
efforts are accomplished thanks to 300 highly qualified personnel working
at 35 participating institutions across Canada. The SFM Network represents
one of the few forums to bring Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal forest resource
managers and policy makers around one table to promote dialogue and the
development of a common understanding in a non-confrontational environment.
About the Networks of Centres of Excellence
Networks of Centres of Excellence create unique partnerships among all
stakeholders, governments, businesses, workers and communities, and are
an initiative of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council,
the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities
Research Council, and Industry Canada.
For more project information, contact:
Dr. Jeremy Rayner, Professor and Chair
Malaspina University-College
Department of Political Science
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Tel: (250) 753-3245 (Ext. 2001)
E-mail: rayner@mala.bc.ca
More information about SFM Network:
Marvin Abugov
Communications Manager
SFM Network
Tel: (780) 492-2492
E-mail: mabugov@ualberta.ca
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