Using social, economic, cultural and ecological indicators in planning, operations, and policy

Project Abstract:
Natural resource managers need to plan and manage for a variety of resource values to achieve social, economic, and environmental objectives. They need community defined criteria and science based indicators and monitoring systems in order to monitor,evaluate, and mitigate the effects of their practices on resource values. The project involves identifying and harmonizing social, economic, cultural and ecological indicators that can be used in planning, operations, and policy. Currently there exists a lack of consistency between the different criteria and indicators (C&I) initiatives being used in BC and in Canada. As well the process of designing criteria and indicators will gain greater legitimacy if there is greater participation by affected groups. To create legitimacy and trust, a feedback system needs to be designed so that relevant and scientifically sound criteria and indicators are being used for measuring progress towards SFM. Working collaboratively with the Common Ground for Criteria and Indicators initiative and the University of British Columbia (http://bc2007.sfmindicators.org/), the project team will work to harmonize and identify consistent socio economic indicators being used in forest certification. It will also provide information on the participatory processes used in the development and implementation of cultural heritage resource indicators.

For further information on this project, please contact society@forrex.org.