Policy advice for public participation in British Columbia forest management

Abstract

This paper explores the current status of public participation in BC forest management with the objective of finding ways to improve it at the policy level. Public participation is discussed in relation to features of deliberative democratic theory and then within the historical context of BC forest management. Recent public complaints concerning inadequate participatory opportunities received at the Forest Practices Board and the move to diminish the extent of public participation in land-use planning is discussed. This paper maintains that effective public participation should be a goal of public forest management and that a corresponding policy should be devised. Key words: public participation, forest management, legitimacy, British Columbia