BC Is Quietly Planning to Split Forest Lands into Three Use Zones

British Columbia’s government is contemplating carving the province into three zones to “provide greater clarity” to the timber industry, and discussions have so far left out First Nations.

The zoning plan is outlined in an email sent in early July to public servants in the Ministry of Forests and the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, a copy of which was provided to The Tyee by a source who requested anonymity.

“The concept will consider three zones: commercial forestry, multiple-use and conservation and protection,” the leaked email reads, adding the zones will “provide greater clarity to achieve both investment stability and community economic benefits, and biodiversity and ecosystem stewardship goals for the land base.”

The email provides no detail on how much forest might ultimately be placed in each of the zones, leaving open questions about just what impact the proposed plan would have on everything from at-risk species to rural and First Nations communities, and a logging industry that has been on a sharp downward spiral for years.

It also makes no mention of whether any parties with a stake in a reshuffled forestry deck received advance notice of the government’s plans. In response to questions, the Ministry of Forests said only that consultations “will begin shortly.”

The Tyee has learned that the email circulated widely to staff in both ministries and was sent by three senior political appointees — Makenzie Leine and Ian Meier, deputy and associate deputy ministers of the Ministry of Forests, and Lori Halls, deputy minister of the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.

Its contents drew a sharp rebuke from Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, who told The Tyee that the organization’s 140-plus First Nations members received no notice of the government’s intentions.

“I find it highly offensive that the provincial government would consider such a momentous shift... without even giving the First Nations, the title holders in this province, a heads-up to say we’re well into the planning of this,” Phillip told The Tyee.

“It’s a complete breach of DRIPA [the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act] and the responsibilities that B.C.