Aboriginal Forestry Extension Program

Project Abstract:
Achieving sustainable forest management goals in British Columbia requires the knowledge and use of the best available science and indigenous knowledge, and experience of resource professionals. The recent client needs survey (Morford and Hollstedt 2006) and the results of a series of FIA FSP First Nations workshops in fall 2006 (Higgins et all 2006) identified First Nations as the second-highest priority audience for the Provincial Forest Extension Program. As more First Nations become involved in forest management, they have identified an increased need for the best available information. As information providers, they identified a need for a means to share their knowledge while respecting and protecting the intellectual knowledge in their communities. Through this project, the Aboriginal Forestry Extension Specialists will provide access to and increase awareness of indigenous knowledge as it relates to sustainable forest management. Activities will focus on outreach and capacity building to aboriginal and non-aboriginal forestry practitioners to enable the use of indigenous knoweldge in forest policy, planning, and operational decisions. Activities will also increase the awareness of aboriginal forestry information needs as well as research and extension priorities as they relate to sustainable forestry.

For further information on this project, please contact society@forrex.org.