Planning a sustainable approach to community forest management with the Katzie First Nation at Blue Mountain and Douglas provincial forests

The British Columbia Community Forest Agreement program (CFA), founded by the province in 1998, provides a forestry tenure option for communities to engage in, and benefit from, local forestry activities. As the program grows, First Nations are increasingly applying for CFA tenures to gain management control over traditional forested territory and to provide economic and social benefits to their communities. Despite increased Aboriginal interest in community forestry, the opportunities and challenges associated with engagement in the CFA program have yet to be evaluated from a First Nations’ perspective. Through a case-study of the forest management priorities of the Katzie First Nation of the lower Fraser Valley, B.C., this study examines how the needs and priorities of B.C. Aboriginal communities can be met through CFA policy. The study concludes with recommendations for First Nations and CFA policy administrators to generate effective community forest agreements suited to First Nation participation.