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Questions and Answers Click on the question to see the answer. Why is Weyerhaeuser involved in a joint venture with First Nations? Can Weyerhaeuser increase their ownership beyond 49%? Is Iisaak a community-based company? Will Iisaak harvest old-growth? What is Iisaak's Allowable Annual Cut (AAC)? How will traditional ecological knowledge be incorporated into Iisaak's operations? How will cultural values be recognized and protected? How can timber harvesting and tourism co-exist? How will employment opportunities be distributed within the local communities? What is the relationship between Iisaak and the Industrial Wood and Allied Workers of Canada (IWA)? How many people does Iisaak expect to employ? Does Iisaak have a business strategy? How does Iisaak expect to be profitable? Is Iisaak being subsidized through stumpage reductions? What is Iisaak's marketing strategy? How will raw logs be utilized? Will they be exported? How were the Iisaak Board of Directors Selected? How are individual First Nations not on the Iisaak Board of Directors represented? What is the term of the Iisaak Board Members? How will Iisaak affect treaty negotiations?
Why is Weyerhaeuser involved in a joint venture with First Nations? The concept of a joint venture company between
MacMillan Bloedel (now Weyerhaeuser) and the Nuu-chah-nulth
First Nations crystallized in April 1996, with the signing of
the Clayoquot Sound Interim Measures Extension Agreement (IMEA).
The IMEA is an agreement between the Nuu-chah-nulth
Central Region First Nations and the provincial government to
provide for joint management of natural resources until the
completion of treaty negotiations. The IMEA made specific reference to the formation of
a joint venture company in Clayoquot Sound and an agreement in
principle between the First Nations and MB was attached as
Schedule II of the IMEA. The reasons for the joint venture were to:
Iisaak is a departure from
conventional forest management.
Iisaak was built on the initiative of the
Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations of the Central Region and
designed to reconcile the differences between the forest
industry, First Nations, government, environment groups and
local communities. In a historic Memorandum of Understanding, the
Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations, MacMillan Bloedel (now
Weyerhaeuser), and Environmental Groups agreed to work
together to promote the resolution of land use conflicts in a
way that respects the First Nations traditional ownership,
enhances local sustainable economic development opportunities,
and provides community stability The structure of Iisaak Forest Resources embodies the
collaboration between cultures. First Nations and non-First
Nations are involved from the ground level to the Board of
Directors. The Iisaak Board of directors is comprised of two
Weyerhaeuser representatives and three Nuu-chah-nulth First
Nations representatives.
With First Nations in control, the decision making
power is held in the local communities. Iisaak will facilitate the achievement of a common vision: supporting ecologically sound sustainable resource management in Clayoquot Sound. Top of page Can Weyerhaeuser increase their ownership beyond 49%? No. The Iisaak shareholders agreement is structured to eventually phase out Weyerhaeuser. First Nations can increase their shares in the company but Weyerhaeuser can not. Top of page Is Iisaak a community-based company? Yes. The Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region First Nations make up approximately 50% of the local communities. Iisaak is an opportunity for the people of the local communities to engage in forest management activities. Top of page Will
Iisaak harvest old-growth?
Iisaak is committed to the conservation of Clayoquot
Sound’s temperate rainforests and recognizes their
significance both locally and globally.
Iisaak has committed to recognizing eehmiis
areas, and will emphasize opportunities associated with
non-timber values, in undeveloped areas that are in
Nuu-chah-nulth “very, very precious”. Iisaak has a stated strategy that involves increasing
emphasis on harvesting second growth over time.
In the interim, Iisaak’s operations will be focused
on developed drainages. Old
growth forest characteristics will be maintained at the stand
level as well as at the landscape level through an extensive
reserve network and a variable retention approach to
harvesting. Iisaak is committed to supporting the watershed level planning process. It is a shared view that long-term landscape level planning will provide the foundation for protecting the ecological integrity of Clayoquot Sound. Top of page What is Iisaak's Allowable Annual Cut (AAC)? The allowable annual cut
(AAC) is determined
by the Chief Forester of British Columbia based on a timber
supply review. The
current AAC attributable to TFL 57 (formerly the Clayoquot
portion of TFL 44) is approximately 100,000 m³/year.
This figure represents an upper maximum based on a
preliminary interpretation of some of the key Clayoquot Sound
Scientific Panel recommendations. Iisaak is currently working on a Management Plan that includes a timber
supply analysis based on Iisaak’s ecologically sensitive
management approach. The
AAC and cut control issue will be reviewed with full
consideration of the adoption of the Scientific Panel
Recommendations. “Because innovative forest practices may have unanticipated consequences, policy must also be adaptive…Act to ensure that monitoring procedures anticipate surprise and that regulation can be quickly modified to reflect new information.” -Scientific
Panel 1995. Iisaak is value driven not volume driven; as a result the actual volume harvested will be based on the application of the principles of sustainable ecosystem management outlined in the Scientific Panel. The Scientific Panel recommends a flow of forest products dictated by the local environment. Top of page How
will traditional ecological knowledge be incorporated into
Iisaak's operations? Iisaak believes that Clayoquot Sound provides an opportunity to demonstrate traditional ecological in sustainable ecosystem management. Iisaak will integrate traditional knowledge with technical and scientific knowledge as recommended in the Scientific Panel. Top of page How
will cultural values be recognized and protected?
Iisaak will not harvest timber without the express
written permission of the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations within
whose traditional territory operations are planned.
Detailed
assessments are conducted prior to all forest management
activities to ensure that cultural values are recognized and
receive protection. The First Nations are involved in the entire planning process from ground level assessments through harvest design and engineering, to consultation with Council and Elders. First Nations have the opportunity to manage decision making at the Board level in Iisaak and Ma-Mook, and at the Central Region Board level. Top of page How
can timber harvesting and tourism co-exist? Iisaak recognizes that tourism is an important
contributor to the local economy.
Enhancing tourism values such as recreation and eco-tourism are embedded in the principles under which Iisaak will operate. Iisaak considers the maintenance of visual quality a high priority. Top of page Creating jobs in the local communities is a primary business objective of Iisaak Forest Resources. Both Ucluelet and Tofino support small manufacturing operations, producing a range of products. Iisaak has committed 30% of the timber volume harvested to local value- added businesses in order to create jobs, promote community stability and enhance the quality of life in the community overall. The availability of logs to the local market is expected to attract new businesses to the area. Top of page How will employment opportunities be distributed within the local communities? Employment opportunities will be available to members of all communities. Consistent with our protocol agreements and the Memorandum of Understanding that has been developed with the Ucluelet community, Iisaak will use the best, most cost effective contractors available with an emphasis on ensuring access to local firms and individuals. Over time, Iisaak will expand its business resulting in additional local employment opportunities. Top of page What is the relationship between Iisaak and the Industrial Wood and Allied Workers of Canada (IWA)? Iisaak looks forward to working with the IWA to develop a mutually supportive relationship based on the concept of voluntary recognition. Top of page How many people does Iisaak expect to employ? Currently, Iisaak employs six full-time people. In addition, several contractors are involved in planning, engineering and management activities. Future employment will be proportional to the activity and growth of the company. Iisaak's business strategy includes increasing employment in local value added industries. Creativity is the only limit! Top of page Does Iisaak have a business strategy? Yes, a business strategy is guiding Iisaak through the formative stage of business development. Information is currently being developed around products, production, costs, revenues, and timing. This information will provide the foundation for a formal business plan to direct Iisaak Forest Resources. Top of page How does Iisaak expect to be profitable? Iisaak’s operations will represent a significant
departure from conventional forestry operations on Vancouver
Island. Iisaak will actively manage the risk associated with
breaking new ground by maintaining a high degree of market
flexibility through the development of a wide range of forest
goods and services. This approach will provide the basis for
unique market appeal that can benefit both Iisaak and the
region as a whole. Iisaak will seek financial returns from higher
standards and greater resource protection.
Part of Iisaak’s business strategy is developing new
markets for: §
certified
wood, §
undervalued
species, §
non-timber
products and, §
research
and conservation values. Conservation values include biodiversity, water and
water related resources, eco-tourism, and recreation. In
the long term, Iisaak will encourage government recognition
that resource management objectives in Clayoquot Sound are
unique. Conducting effective, efficient and viable ecosystem
based forestry operations in Clayoquot Sound will require
changes to existing regulations and administrative structures.
Iisaak will work with the Ministry of Forests, other agencies
and government to adapt policy and regulation to suit the
unique conditions in Clayoquot Sound. Is Iisaak being subsidized through stumpage reductions? In July 2000, the provincial government amended the Coast Appraisal Manual to include a "Clayoquot Sound cost estimate" to reflect the higher costs associated with implementing the recommendations of the Clayoquot Sound Scientific Panel. This cost figure applies to all licensees operating within Clayoquot Sound. Top of page What is Iisaak's marketing strategy? Iisaak is developing a unique and readily
recognizable marketing strategy aimed at local and specialty
markets for wood products as well as a range of other forest
products that can benefit from the “Clayoquot” name.
Certification of activities and products is a priority.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with
Environment Groups opens the door to having a Clayoquot
regional brand both endorsed and carried forward to millions
of people worldwide. Environment
Groups committed to: “actively assist Iisaak, within the capacity of each Environment Group
and as enabled by FSC-accredited certification, in the
marketing of Iisaak’s forestry and associated value added
forest products.” Iisaak’s marketing strategy is to benefit local value-added manufacturers through niche markets and price premiums.Top of page How will raw logs be utilized? Will they be exported? With market development, Iisaak will pursue markets
that provide the highest return.
Weyerhaeuser has right of first refusal on up to 49 percent of log production. In order
to foster community stability, Iisaak has committed to
providing 30% of the volume harvested to local value added
businesses. Raw log export is not an Iisaak solution. Top of page How
were the Iisaak Board of Directors Selected? The Iisaak Board of Directors were selected by Ma-Mook Natural Resources by consensus to ensure that those First Nations who were primarily affected by Iisaak’s activities would be represented. How are individual First Nations not on the Iisaak Board of Directors represented? Any of the Central Region First Nations may send an observer to the Iisaak Board meetings. For information regarding the dates, times and locations of the Iisaak Board meetings please contact Cindy Hazenboom at 726-2446. Top of page What is the term of the Iisaak Board Members? The Iisaak Board of Directors are reviewed annually at the Iisaak shareholders meetings. It is contemplated that tenure consolidation will result in increased First Nations ownership of Iisaak. Top of page How will Iisaak affect treaty negotiations? The Joint Venture Agreement is without prejudice to Treaty negotiations. The acquisition and management of a tree farm license will provide an opportunity for First Nations to engage in resource management on their traditional lands. Top of page |
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