Wednesday, February 5
8:00 am–12:30 pm	FIELD TOUR* North Cowichan Municipal Forest and BC Forest Discovery Centre (lunch provided). Additional cost added to your conference registration fee. Cost: $45. Only 40 spaces available. Participants to meet on Gordon Street, East side of Vancouver Island Conference Centre (VICC), at 7:30 am for the 8:00 am departure. The North Cowichan Municipal Forest consists of approximately 5,000ha of fee simple, private land owned by the Municipality and managed by its Forestry Department as a working forest for the benefit of local residents. Stops on the tour include recent fire and blowdown salvage harvesting where current operational and silviculture practices will be reviewed. A third stop will showcase a previously harvested area with a popular trail within the harvest area where current strategies and challenges of working with recreational users within the working forest will be discussed. The tour continues to the BC Forest Discovery Center with its new interactive exhibit, Forest Forever, showing why BC’s forests are unique in the world and how science and technology are helping us sustainably manage our forest resource.
12:00 pm	Registration Opens Location: Newcastle Island Lobby Sponsored by:
1:30 pm–3:00 pm	IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION Old Growth: How Are We Managing the Resource and the Expectations? Location: Shaw Auditorium Forest professionals are faced with increased pressure from the public in the form of mass media campaigns to stop the harvest of old growth. Currently, there are many perspectives on how old growth should be managed, ranging from full preservation to maintaining the status quo. While it is unlikely that there will ever be complete agreement on the question of how much old growth is enough, it is worthwhile to understand how the resource is being managed and what innovations are being employed to ensure values contained within the old growth forest will be maintained over time. The session will explore the following questions: What is the current inventory of old growth in BC? What are the values associated with old growth that are of significance? How are foresters managing to ensure old growth values are considered in forest management decisions? What tools are available for the professional to manage the old growth resource? How do we communicate information about how old growth is being managed and protected to the public? Speakers: Allen Banner, RPF(Ret), RPBio, Banner Consulting Sonia Furstenau, MLA – Cowichan Valley, Green Party of BC Shannon Janzen, RPF, vice president and chief forester, Western Forest Products Inc. Moderator: Al Gorley, RPF, president, Triangle Resources Inc.
1:30 pm–3:00 pm	IN-DEPTH DISCUSSION Are Herbicides Getting a Bad Rap? Location: Nanaimo River Room Managing deciduous competition using glyphosate is under scrutiny throughout BC and the safety of herbicide use to both humans and wildlife is highly questioned by the public. Forest professionals are faced with a difficult task: meeting legal obligations to produce a “free growing” plantation free from crop tree competition where the most effective treatment option might be to use herbicides when there is an increase in public concern/scrutiny on the safety and usefulness of herbicides. Are herbicides important to have in the tool box for plantation management to help control competing vegetation including invasive species? How should forest professionals account for the public’s concerns? Are there potential impacts and/or implications for the long term timber supply and other values if herbicide is not able to be used? Is glyphosate a tool we can do without or is it an important option that’s getting a bad rap? Speakers: Len Ritter, PhD, professor emeritus, toxicology, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph Neil Hughes, RPF, forest establishment leader, Resource Practices Branch, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development
3:00 pm–3:30 pm	COFFEE BREAK Location: Newcastle Island Lobby
3:30 pm–5:00 pm	PLENARY PANEL Thinking Locally: BC Communities and Forest Management Location: Shaw Auditorium Forest Minister Doug Donaldson has said that the future of forest management in BC will involve communities having more control over decisions regarding local resources. Will community input and involvement foster an increased commitment to making good use of the resources we do harvest and ensure that local benefits, from wildfire risk to employment, will result? Forest professionals will benefit by looking more closely at the role that communities currently play in the industry and the issues. What role should or could communities play in the future of forest management? What is the public interest in forest management and what is the politician’s role in defining it? Speakers: Gary Foster, mayor, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (Fort Nelson) Sharie Minions, mayor, Port Alberni Moderator: Gary Bull, PhD, professor and department head, Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia Sponsored by:
7:00 pm–10:30 pm	TRADE SHOW Location: Newcastle Island Lobby
7:00 pm–10:30 pm	ICEBREAKER RECEPTION Location: Newcastle Island Lobby and Mt Benson Ballroom
9:00 pm	Registration Closes

Thursday, February 6
7:00 am	Registration and Trade Show Opens Location: Newcastle Island Lobby and Mt Benson Ballroom
7:00 am–8:00 am	BREAKFAST Location: Mt Benson Ballroom D & C
7:15 am–8:00 am	OPENING WELCOME Location: Mt Benson Ballroom D & C
8:00 am–9:00 am	OPENING KEYNOTE Meet the Superintendent of Professional Governance Location: Mt Benson Ballroom D & C Speaker: Paul Craven, superintendent of professional governance, Ministry of the Attorney General Moderator: Christine Gelowitz, RPF, chief executive officer, Association of BC Forest Professionals Sponsored by:
9:15 am–10:30 am	BREAKOUT SESSION 1 Too Much Water; Not Enough Water: Forest Hydrology in a Changing Climate Location: Shaw Auditorium In the past few years there have been many headlines that speak about how forestry practices are threatening drinking water, worsening draughts and consequently damaging fish habitat and water supply. What do we currently know, and what do we need to find out in order to be confident that forest harvesting practices aren’t causing problems, particularly in the face of climate change? Speaker: Bill Floyd, PhD, RPF, research hydrologist, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development; adjunct professor, Vancouver Island University John Rex, team lead, Research and Stewardship, Omineca Region, Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operation and Rural Development Moderator: Domenico Iannidinardo, RPF, RPBio, P.Eng, vice president, forest & sustainability and chief forester, Mosaic Forest Management
	BREAKOUT SESSION 2 Wildfire: Adapting and Managing for Continued Change Location: Nanaimo River Room Wildfire behaviour has changed significantly over recent years, causing significant losses to forests and to communities. National fire researchers are predicting that climate change is worsening the triple threat of plentiful dry fuel to burn, frequent lightning strikes and dry, windy weather which will ensure that these catastrophic fires are going to become more common. What are we doing both provincially and nationally in research and innovation to adapt to our current circumstances and lessen the risk to forests and communities due to wildfire? What practical aspects are available to forest managers in their day to day work to combat the risk of wildfire? Speakers: Jeff Mycock, RPF, chief forester, West Fraser Timber Mike Flannigan, PhD, professor, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta; Director of the Western Partnership for Wildland Fire Science Moderator: Mike McCulley, research and innovation senior officer, BC Wildfire Service Headquarters
	BREAKOUT SESSION 3 Diversity in Forestry: Why Should I Care? Location: Departure Bay Room As we talk more about diversity and inclusion in the forest sector, it becomes apparent that the participants in the conversation tend to be women, indigenous people, and others that are less represented in the industry. In order to create a shift in our demographics, the whole industry needs to have the conversation together, and this can start from the understanding that we have a problem… but also an opportunity. Learning how to adjust the way we recruit, hire and work can open the door to new perspectives participating in the industry and moving it towards an innovative and progressive future. This panel will explore the benefits of a more diverse industry, why all forest professionals should work together to move these initiatives forward, and discuss some inclusive strategies that forest professionals can utilize to recruit the next generation. Speakers: Kelly Cooper, founder and president, Centre for Social Intelligence Jonathan Lok, RFT, managing director, Strategic Natural Resource Consultants Inc. More speakers to be confirmed.
10:30 am–11: 00 am	COFFEE BREAK Location: Newcastle Island Lobby and Mt Benson Ballroom A & B
11:00 am–12:00 pm	BREAKOUT SESSION 4 UNDRIP and the Growing Indigenous Economy Location: Shaw Auditorium With the BC government committed to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), many wonder what that will look like. According to Carol Anne Hilton, CEO and founder of the Indigenomics Institute, what’s at play is a clear pivot towards Indigenous inclusion in forestry, mining, oil and gas, as well as the processes for land and marine use planning. It doesn’t have to be about just saying no – but getting in on the ground floor to make sure projects work with local values, priorities, and (hopefully) growing economies. Indigenous jurisdiction and authority can form economic benefits that flow to the Nations from activities taking place on their traditional territories. This is the coming together of the pieces, previously disregarded, now expressed through UNDRIP. This is Indigenomics, the practice of bringing an Indigenous perspective to economic and social development. Indigenomics is the collective economic response to the legacy of systemic exclusion of Indigenous peoples in the development of Canada. Indigenomics is the conscious claim and creation of space for the advancement of the emerging Indigenous economy and an increase in Indigenous economic activity. In 2016 the size of the Indigenous economy was estimated to be close to $30 billion; it actually came in at $32 billion, with a significant escalation in growth over the previous 10 years. Speaker: Carol Anne Hilton, MBA, founder & CEO, Indigenomics Institute
	BREAKOUT SESSION 5 Lessons from the Forest Practices Board: Managing for Fish Habitat Location: Nanaimo River Room The FPB is completing a special investigation into effect of forest practices on fish habitat. This is the second part of the two part series looking at fish habitat in BC. This investigation will focus on how well fish habitat is conserved under FRPA. Licensees’ compliance with FRPA’s requirements to protect fish habitat; and, Whether, and to what extent, planning and practices by forest and range licensees are contributing to the protection of fish habitat at both the site and watershed levels in sample watersheds know to have significant fish values. Speakers: Doug Wahl, RPBio, manager, audits & investigations, Forest Practices Board Derek Tripp, RPBio, Tripp & Associates Consulting Ltd. Moderator: Sam Coggins, RPF, director, investigations, Forest Practices Board
	BREAKOUT SESSION 6 The Art of Public Engagement: Sharing the Story of Sustainable Forest Management Location: Departure Bay Room The public has more and more questions about what is happening in the woods. In many communities, residents are demanding influence in harvest activities, and with social media fanning the flames, their calls to action are being heard broadly. Changes to FRPA are encouraging more public engagement. How do forest professionals engage the public in an effective way? What kind of information is important, and what kind of actions will satisfy a public that is worried about climate change and the future of our forests? What role does media play, and how do we get our messages out in an effective way? Speakers: Stewart Muir, executive director, Resource Works Makenzie Leine, RPF, vice president, business development and Indigenous partnerships, A&A Trading Moderator: Rick Monchak, RPF, board member, Forest Practices Board
12:00 pm–1:30 pm	KEYNOTE LUNCHEON WITH JORDIN TOOTOO Aiming for Wellness Together: Mental Health and Resilient Communities Location: Mt Benson Ballroom D & C
1:45 pm–3:00 pm	72^nd ABCFP ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING** Location: Mt Benson Ballroom D & C **Members can attend for free. No registration required.
3:00 pm–4:00 pm	CONVERSATION WITH COUNCIL Location: Mt Benson Ballroom D & C
3:30 pm-4:30 pm	Forest Without Borders Meeting Location: Lantzville Room For more information, please contact Alan Fry.
5:00 pm-6:30 pm	UBC FORESTRY ALUMNI RECEPTION Location: Departure Bay Room Please RSVP to attend. For more information, please contact Michelle Lindsay.
5:30 pm–6:30 pm	EXHIBIT HALL HAPPY HOUR Location: Newcastle Island Lobby and Mt Benson Ballroom A & B Sponsored by:
6:30 pm–11:00 pm	PRESIDENT’S AWARDS BANQUET Location: Mt Benson Ballroom D & C
6:30 pm	Registration and Trade Show Closes

2020 Forestry Conference Program

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