First Nations and non-timber resource management within British Columbia
Marilyn Bittman, JEM Managing Editor
Non-timber forest resources play an increasingly important role in British Columbia’s economy .
To better understand the science and sustainable management of these important forest-based
resources, Forrex partnered with royal roads University to produce a series of articles on
this subject . In this edition of the BC Journal of Ecosystems and Management, we bring to the foreground
a few of these resources . Bruce Fraser’s guest editorial (see page v) introduces us to the complexity of
our forests’ variegated resources, and how effective non-timber resource management influences the
ecological value of our forests, as well as the economic value to rural communities and the cultural value
to First Nations .
russell Collier and Tom Hobby speak to relationships between First Nations and non-timber
resource management within British Columbia . They examine the holistic stewardship of our forests,
addressing the importance of understanding how First Nations manage non-timber resources,
the gains that have been achieved through policy, planning, and management, and conclude with
recommendations for decision makers .
Two of the articles presented in this edition of JEM focus on the value of our forest mushrooms:
morels and chanterelles . Michael Keefer, richard Winder, and Tom Hobby examine the commercial
aspects of harvesting morels in the east Kootenays . The authors highlight harvesting, forest
management, and commercialization difficulties in an unpredictable ecosystem, and pinpoint the key
areas of additional research required to support the continued healthy harvest of morels .
Tyson ehlers and Tom Hobby’s article on Vancouver Island chanterelle mushrooms sheds some
light on wild mushroom harvesters and how a relatively low income does not dissuade them from
picking mushrooms for both personal use and recreation . From this article, we learn that chanterelle
mushrooms are tied to good forest management practices, local markets, and global trade . The authors
conclude with suggested forest management practices that might produce higher yields .
Salal has been commercialized in British Columbia for decades and harvested by First Nations for
centuries . Tom Hobby, Kari Dow, and Sara MacKenzie explain how First Nations used salal both as a
source of food and as a trade product . The authors look at salal’s commercial development on southern
Vancouver Island and how it has become a viable industry with a value well into the millions of dollars .
of concern are issues affecting financial viability, livelihood security, and resource conservation in the
salal sector .
Forest management, whether timber or non-timber, is the key topic of two other JEM articles .
Wendy Cocksedge, Brian Titus, and Darcy Mitchell’s article focusses on benefits and barriers in the
province’s compatible management of timber and non-timber resources . Their findings come from
a survey that involved roughly 3500 British Columbia individuals and organizations . Their results
underline a need for a stronger voice in the non-timber forest product sector, the clarification and
strengthening of Aboriginal rights, and further research . Darcy Mitchell and Tom Hobby look at the