Forest Leadership -- Bring Your Organization at the Leading Edge of Forest Sector Sustainability

ForestLeadership offers you cutting-edge online training dealing with key strategic forest sector challenges and being presented by the most knowledgeable experts.

The training sessions are just a few mouse clicks away, and whether you are a forest sector professional, a stakeholder, an academic or a student, you will find these content-driven sessions to be not only highly valuable but also critical to your understanding of the future of the forest sector.

sharon_haines_introslide The online training sessions are based on a series of teleseminars that began in April 2006. The sessions are audio/visual screencasts that contain the complete audio presentation and PowerPoint slides, plus the recorded Q&A session with each speaker. The screencasts are user-friendly and require only the free Macromedia Flash player to be installed on your computer. You can conveniently pause and jump forward or backward within the session. To explore what screencasts are, please see the "Free Demos" page.

You can access our cutting edge online training for as little as $15 per session when you purchase the complete archives (all 20 sessions) for your individual use for a total of C$300. Single sessions for individual use are affordably priced at C$25. As with our teleseminar series, pricing is available for corporation/organization level purchases, providing access to an unlimited number of employees within the same corporation/organization. See details about pricing on this page.

Click here to purchase your online training sessions securely by credit card through InternetSecure. Please also communicate us by email your choice of sessions. We will communicate you your access code at a very short notice, not exceeding one business day. Alternatively, download the form below and fax it to us at (514) 277-6663.

Online Training Order Form 124.69 Kb

The following topics were covered in a total of 20 sessions:

Identifying & Protecting High Conservation Value, Exceptional Conservation Value, and Endangered Forests

“Identifying & Protecting Endangered Forests” -- “Landscape Analysis for Forest Conservation Planning” -- “Conservation Values across Forest Landscapes” --“Identifying & Protecting Forests of Special Conservation Interests—A Landowner’s Perspective”

A Strategic Update on the Leading North American Forest Certification Programs

“A Strategic Update on the Forest Stewardship Council” -- “Canada’s National Standard for Sustainable Forest Management” -- “The SFI Standard: A Strategic Update” -- "A Strategic Update on the American Tree Farm System"

Green Building and Lumber

“The Green Building Initiative” -- “The Canada Green Building Council and LEED—Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design” --“Green Building and Sustainable Development"

Bringing Environmentally-Preferable Paper to the Market

“Focus on FSC Paper” -- “Focus on the paper/catalogue campaigns in North America” -- "Bringing Environmentally-Preferable Paper to the Market: Some History, Some Outlook”

Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Forest Management

“Meeting the Challenges of Sustainability” -- “Innovation & Sustainable Forest Management” -- “Engaging Business in Landscape-Scale Conservation”

Challenges & Opportunities with Managing Carbon in Forestry

“International Policy Developments for Forest-Based Greenhouse Gas Projects with a Focus on North America” -- “Carbon as an Asset: Risks and Opportunity in a Carbon-Constrained Economy” -- ”Sustaining Forests for Carbon Benefits”

ForestLeadership Conference Addresses Challenges and Solutions to Sustainability

The 2007 ForestLeadership Conference, “Sustainability for Success,” was held in Vancouver, BC, on May 9th and attracted over 250 delegates.

The event started off with BC’s Deputy Minister of Forests Doug Konkin who pointed out that BC is headed towards a slide in timber supply in the near future. Though he emphasized the loss of staff as a serious problem in the past, Konkin noted seeing the replacement of staff in the BC Ministry of Forests and Range by “a younger, more open-minded set of people.”

Sustainable Forestry Initiative President William Banzhaf reminded delegates of global responsibilities related to population growth and pressures on natural resources and discussed the question of whether or not current consumption levels are indeed sustainable. He went on to underline the role of independent forest certification as a tool for the forest and paper industry to keep its social license to operate. Dr. Hamish Kimmins, a Professor at the University of British Columbia, argued that over-regulation does not work and pointed to a lack of stewardship by corporations, leaving delegates with the question of how to get corporations to act in a more sustainable manner without imposing regulations. Kimmins also noted that some of today’s forestry techniques date back to 19th century Germany—it is “time to move on,” he stressed.

Carlton Owen, CEO of the new U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, spoke about how his organization is going to use the income from the $200-million from the softwood lumber agreement for systemic, transformative, and sustainable change to promote sustainable forests and forestland communities. FPInnovations CEO Dr. Ian de la Roche spoke about the new bio-economy and how his new organization—the reorganization of Forintek, FERIC, and Paprican—is going to work in this new economic model and how sustainability has become a priority for the general public. Dr. Robert Hrubes of Scientific Certification Systems ventured that “we don’t have the slightest idea as to what we are doing is sustainable,” echoing Banzhaf, while emphasizing that certification is not about sustainability but about responsible forest management practices.

In a panel focusing on marketplace solutions, moderated by former International Paper senior executive and now consultant Carl Gagliardi, Limited Brands’ Senior VP Tom Katzenmeyer noted that as procurement practices change, consumers cannot turn back. Referring to the recent campaign against Victoria’s Secret, before the company changed its catalog procurement policies, Katzenmeyer spoke about the critical need to maintain corporate reputations and how Limited Brands could drive more companies towards corporate social responsibility and responsible procurement. Nicole Rycroft of the Markets Initiative supported his view, emphasizing how the markets have changed since 2000 and emphasizing that many companies still need to embark on the “green train.” Over the luncheon, Katzenmeyer and ForestEthics’ Strategic Director Tzeporah Berman underlined the strength of their partnership and their willingness to work together over the long haul, with a budget of $1 million financial commitment from Limited Brands.

At the panel focusing on sustainability challenges and solutions for British Columbia, Bruce Fraser, Chair of the Forest Practices Board, spoke about the need for ecologically-defined units and argued for integrated resource management as the direction in which BC should head. ForestEthics’ Tzeporah Berman highlighted how the well-being of a community is directly linked to the well-being of its resources; she spoke about the 2006 announcement of the Great Bear Rainforest Agreement and how, while its announcement was itself a huge success, the success of the Agreement can only be measured by what has been laid out on the ground come the March 2009 deadline. Dallas Smith of the Nanwakolas Council spoke about the “third-world conditions” in some parts of Canada and how First Nations are now speaking out and getting involved with environmental issues to ensure their continued presence and that their voices will be heard. Dr. Bill Bourgeois spoke about the need for area-based management as a pre-condition for ecosystem based management and emphasized that for true collaboration to take place, communities need to have clearly defined common visions and goals.

At the panel focusing on the boreal forest, Dr. Jim Fyles of the Sustainable Forest Management Network echoed Bourgeois, emphasizing the great need for effective partnerships and leadership to address sustainability challenges. Trevor Wakelin from Millar Western spoke about integrated land management, the importance of research and development and his company’s commitment to CSA certification. For his part, Keith Moore, forest management consultant and FSC auditor, presented various conditions and improvements to forest management resulting from certification in the Boreal.

The conference ended with concluding comments by Jean-Pierre Kiekens, Conference Chair, Professor John Innes from the University of British Columbia and Michael Chenard’s from Lowe’s Corporation. The event also featured two receptions and a series of workshops on topics such as ecosystem based management, forest certification, responsible procurement, carbon management and innovation development.

2007 Conference Pictures

Conference Sponsors

Conference Testimonials

"I found it interesting to hear from the different sides of the certification debate. From the suppliers to the buyers. I also found it an excellent place to network and to meet new people."
- Dave Nordquist - RPF, Adams Lake Indian Band

ForestNewsWatch.com

Quote / Unquote

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." — John F. Kennedy

Forest NewsWire