Ecosystem management and forestry planning in Labrador: how does Aboriginal involvement affect management plans?

Abstract

Aboriginal peoples are increasingly being invited to participate in sustainable forest management processes as a means of including their knowledge, values, and concerns. However, it is justifiable to ask if this participation does lead to changes in forest management plans and to outcomes in management activities. We review four forest management plans over 10 years (1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009) in Labrador, Canada, to determine if increasing involvement by the Aboriginal Innu Nation has led to changes in plan content. We also compare these plans with three plans from another forest management district where there is no Innu presence and with two provincial forest strategies . Analysis shows that Labrador plans prepared since 2000, when the Innu and the provincial government established a collaborative process, are different from all other plans reviewed. Four principal characteristics distinguish these plans: a structure based around ecological, cultural, and economic landscapes, a network of cultural and ecological protected areas, increased attention to social and cultural values, and greater emphasis on research and monitoring. This suggests that Innu involvement has in fact influenced the contents of these plans, developing an innovative approach to implementing ecosystem management and demonstrating the utility of involving Aboriginal peoples in forest management planning processes.Résumé : Les nations autochtones sont de plus en plus souvent invitées à participer aux processus de gestion durable des forêts afin que leur savoir, leurs valeurs et leurs préoccupations soient intégrés à ces démarches. Cependant, on peut se demander si cette participation fait une différence dans les plans d'aménagement et dans la nature des réalisations qui en dé-coulent. Nous avons donc passé en revue quatre plans d'aménagement appliqués au Labrador, Canada, durant la décennie 1999-2009 afin de déterminer si la contribution croissante de la nation Innue a induit des changements au contenu de ces plans. Nous les avons aussi comparés à trois autres plans dans des districts de gestion forestière où les Innus sont absents et à deux stratégies forestières provinciales. L'analyse montre que les plans conçus depuis 2000, lorsque les Innus du Labrador et le gouvernement provincial ont établi un processus collaboratif, se démarquent de tous les autres plans considérés. Quatre caractéristiques principales distinguent ces plans : une structure s'articulant autour des paysages écologique, culturel et éco-nomique, un réseau d'aires protégées servant des fins culturelles et écologiques, une attention accrue aux valeurs sociales et culturelles et une plus grande emphase accordée à la recherche et au monitoring. Cela suggère que l'implication des Innus a, dans les faits, influencé le contenu des plans tout en permettant de développer une approche innovante afin de mettre en oeuvre une gestion écosystémique et de démontrer l'utilité de la participation des nations autochtones aux processus de planificatio...

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