Changing the culture of forestry in Canada

"Existing institutions and rules of engagement for sustainable forest management (SFM) in Canada are not designed to acommodate the rights or interests of its Aboriginal peoples. In recognition of this fact, there has emerged a community of Aboriginal partners and academic researchers committed to changing forestry practices, institutions, and policies. Supported by the Sustainable Forest Management Network, this 'community of practice' has sought collectively to design and undertake research to address the needs, rights and interests of forest-dependent Aboriginal communities, with the intention of producing knowledge and skill sets needed to reform forest and resource development sectors. Changing the Culture of Forestry in Canada: Building Effective Institutions for Aboriginal Engagement in Sustainable Forest Management is the fi rst of two volumes that highlights the most current and critical research undertaken by this community of practice.

Chapters shed light on Aboriginal stewardship values, including land use and management systems; document processes of negotiating space for Aboriginal inclusion in current forest practices; evaluate existing institutional options available to Aboriginal communities for engaging in SFM; and describe more nuanced and ethical approaches to accommodating Aboriginal rights into SFM, and to engaging Aboriginal peoples in research. While this book and upcoming companion volume are aimed directly at Canada's forest sector, the implications of this research and the potential importance of this book go far beyond forestry, and should be of considerable interest and value to all government, industry, Aboriginal and other parties with a vested interest in natural resource development and management on lands where Aboriginal peoples assert constitutionally protected rights and interests--i.e., most of Canada. By attempting to create the ethical space for Aboriginal peoples in building new institutions and policies for their engagement in SFM, this volume addresses some of the most pressing environmental and social issues that Canadians face today."--Pub. desc.