Many have made general statements about the need for the forest sector to improve its social licence even though the definition of what that actually means varies significantly. Invariably, in one form or another and by extension it will mean additional commitments and costs made by industry. This comes at a time when most recognize the need to improve our overall competitiveness and current high-cost structures.

The question for our panelists is how they manage and reconcile apparently conflicting agendas; or perhaps they don't necessarily have to conflict. We will hear perspectives on this topic from people directly working in the woods, those working diligently to improve relationships with their community, and from a broader national perspective.

Obviously, the current old-growth harvesting debate in BC is posing a challenge towards finding a solution that will work for the best overall interests of the Province and forest sector. In the vast majority of debates, any answer is typically boiled down to a simple yes or no solution. Is this necessarily true? Are there innovative practices and systems out there that will allow for forest managers to have a suite of potential options when managing old-growth values that include harvesting? Our panelists will explore that question. 

Much has been written and said in traditional media over the past several years about old-growth harvesting and governments current policy changes. These two seasoned, hard-hitting political journalists provide their tenured insights to the current political landscape surrounding BC’s forest industry.