Municipal Forest Reserve Review

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North Cowichan is reviewing its forest reserve management practices, with the intent to develop options for a future management plan.

Thank you for participating in Round 2 of public engagement (November 2022 to January 2023), which asked people to consider four potential forest management scenarios and help determine a preferred option. The UBC Group will use the feedback to adjust the potential forest management scenarios (if necessary) and present these to Council for a decision. A detailed forest management plan will then need to be developed to support the preferred scenario.

Previous public engagement

Round 2 (Fall 2022) asked people to consider four potential forest management scenarios and help determine a preferred option. These scenarios were developed by the UBC Partnership Group (UBC, 3GreenTree Consulting) that considered input on values heard during Round 1 in Fall 2021. The scenarios reflect ecological, economic, and social criteria and indicators, and represent a spectrum of timber harvesting and carbon credit revenue options.

During this round, people could participate in an information session (in-person November 30, 2022, and online December 6 & 12, 2022). An online survey asked people to rank the four scenarios from most prefered to least prefered, and to say why. A polling company conducted a representative survey in December 2022 (by phone) of North Cowichan residents, using the same questions.

  • Watch the presentation portion of the Dec. 12 online information session
  • The Round 2 Discussion Guide is an overview of the scenario options, plus relevant background information on the process.

Feedback heard during Round 2 public engagement will be presented to Council as part of a ‘what we heard’ report. The UBC Group will use the feedback to adjust the potential forest management scenarios (if necessary) and present these to Council for a decision. A detailed forest management plan will then need to be developed to support the preferred scenario.

During Round 1 (Values; Fall 2021) stakeholders and the public were invited to share their values about the Municipal Forest Reserve (MFR). Four virtual online workshops, a survey, and 19 stakeholder interviews resulted in a detailed report that outlined what people value about the MFR.

Working group and stakeholder involvement

A broad range of stakeholders, along with the public, can share their thoughts on the MFR.

An Engagement Working Group made up of North Cowichan residents from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints meet to provide important advice and input on the engagement process. A list of members as well as minutes from these meetings can be found in the Documents section of this page.

First Nation involvement

In August, 2021, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by North Cowichan and the Quw'utsun Nation, which is comprised of Cowichan Tribes, Halalt First Nation, Stz’uminus First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, and Lyackson First Nation. The MOU outlines the establishment of a Municipal Forest Reserve (MFR) Working Group to share information in relationship to the stewardship and use of the MFR for the benefit of the community. The agreement signifies the commitment by both parties to continue meeting and discussing activities in the MFR.

Background of the review

In response to public interest in harvesting activities and requests for a review of forest management, Council dramatically limited harvesting in 2019 and initiated two initiatives: 1) undertaking public engagement, both deep and broad, on the future management of the MFR and 2) a technical review of forest management practices, options, and scenarios. The technical review will support the public engagement process by providing the information needed for informed public participation, and the public engagement process will inform the evaluation of the technical scenarios and options.

About the MFR

The Municipality of North Cowichan is one of the few communities in North America that owns and manages forest lands for the benefit of residents. North Cowichan’s Municipal Forest Reserve is different from community forests or tree farm licenses, as it is owned by the Municipality and not a licence granted by the Province.

  • The MFR is 5,000+ hectares (ha) and accounts for approximately 25% of the land base in North Cowichan.

  • The MFR consists of six major land holdings: Mount Prevost, Mount Sicker, Mount Tzouhalem, Stoney Hill, Mount Richards, and Maple Mountain, plus a number of smaller parcels including Grace Road, Panorama Ridge, and near Cottonwood Road behind the Fuller Lake arena.

  • Since 1946, the MFR has been owned and managed as a working forest. The current annual harvesting allowance is 20,000 cubic meters.

  • Forest management on Maple Mountain is informed by the Municipality’s Framework for Integrated Forest Resource Management for Maple Mountain (1992) that seeks to balance harvesting, recreation, and conservation for that area.

  • One of the ways that the Municipality seeks to ensure sustainability of the MFR is by replanting harvested areas at the earliest possible time with the best seedling stock available. Species that naturally occur in this area are replanted, namely Douglas-fir, western red cedar, and western white pine.

For more information

Learn more about the Municipal Forest Reserve and related programs such as community contributions, forestry reports, and fire protection at North Cowichan Forestry.

North Cowichan is reviewing its forest reserve management practices, with the intent to develop options for a future management plan.

Thank you for participating in Round 2 of public engagement (November 2022 to January 2023), which asked people to consider four potential forest management scenarios and help determine a preferred option. The UBC Group will use the feedback to adjust the potential forest management scenarios (if necessary) and present these to Council for a decision. A detailed forest management plan will then need to be developed to support the preferred scenario.

Previous public engagement

Round 2 (Fall 2022) asked people to consider four potential forest management scenarios and help determine a preferred option. These scenarios were developed by the UBC Partnership Group (UBC, 3GreenTree Consulting) that considered input on values heard during Round 1 in Fall 2021. The scenarios reflect ecological, economic, and social criteria and indicators, and represent a spectrum of timber harvesting and carbon credit revenue options.

During this round, people could participate in an information session (in-person November 30, 2022, and online December 6 & 12, 2022). An online survey asked people to rank the four scenarios from most prefered to least prefered, and to say why. A polling company conducted a representative survey in December 2022 (by phone) of North Cowichan residents, using the same questions.

  • Watch the presentation portion of the Dec. 12 online information session
  • The Round 2 Discussion Guide is an overview of the scenario options, plus relevant background information on the process.

Feedback heard during Round 2 public engagement will be presented to Council as part of a ‘what we heard’ report. The UBC Group will use the feedback to adjust the potential forest management scenarios (if necessary) and present these to Council for a decision. A detailed forest management plan will then need to be developed to support the preferred scenario.

During Round 1 (Values; Fall 2021) stakeholders and the public were invited to share their values about the Municipal Forest Reserve (MFR). Four virtual online workshops, a survey, and 19 stakeholder interviews resulted in a detailed report that outlined what people value about the MFR.

Working group and stakeholder involvement

A broad range of stakeholders, along with the public, can share their thoughts on the MFR.

An Engagement Working Group made up of North Cowichan residents from diverse backgrounds and viewpoints meet to provide important advice and input on the engagement process. A list of members as well as minutes from these meetings can be found in the Documents section of this page.

First Nation involvement

In August, 2021, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by North Cowichan and the Quw'utsun Nation, which is comprised of Cowichan Tribes, Halalt First Nation, Stz’uminus First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, and Lyackson First Nation. The MOU outlines the establishment of a Municipal Forest Reserve (MFR) Working Group to share information in relationship to the stewardship and use of the MFR for the benefit of the community. The agreement signifies the commitment by both parties to continue meeting and discussing activities in the MFR.

Background of the review

In response to public interest in harvesting activities and requests for a review of forest management, Council dramatically limited harvesting in 2019 and initiated two initiatives: 1) undertaking public engagement, both deep and broad, on the future management of the MFR and 2) a technical review of forest management practices, options, and scenarios. The technical review will support the public engagement process by providing the information needed for informed public participation, and the public engagement process will inform the evaluation of the technical scenarios and options.

About the MFR

The Municipality of North Cowichan is one of the few communities in North America that owns and manages forest lands for the benefit of residents. North Cowichan’s Municipal Forest Reserve is different from community forests or tree farm licenses, as it is owned by the Municipality and not a licence granted by the Province.

  • The MFR is 5,000+ hectares (ha) and accounts for approximately 25% of the land base in North Cowichan.

  • The MFR consists of six major land holdings: Mount Prevost, Mount Sicker, Mount Tzouhalem, Stoney Hill, Mount Richards, and Maple Mountain, plus a number of smaller parcels including Grace Road, Panorama Ridge, and near Cottonwood Road behind the Fuller Lake arena.

  • Since 1946, the MFR has been owned and managed as a working forest. The current annual harvesting allowance is 20,000 cubic meters.

  • Forest management on Maple Mountain is informed by the Municipality’s Framework for Integrated Forest Resource Management for Maple Mountain (1992) that seeks to balance harvesting, recreation, and conservation for that area.

  • One of the ways that the Municipality seeks to ensure sustainability of the MFR is by replanting harvested areas at the earliest possible time with the best seedling stock available. Species that naturally occur in this area are replanted, namely Douglas-fir, western red cedar, and western white pine.

For more information

Learn more about the Municipal Forest Reserve and related programs such as community contributions, forestry reports, and fire protection at North Cowichan Forestry.

  • Survey - Round 2

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    CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    DEADLINE EXTENDED

    Take the survey, as part of Round 2 of the Municipal Forest Reserve review, The survey closes January 31, 2023. You may also receive a phone call to participate in the representative survey being conducted by the Mustel Group.

Page last updated: 13 Mar 2024, 03:53 PM