Forest Advisory Committees in Quebec: an effective tool for public participation? Solange Nadeau, ing.f., Ph.D. Catherine Martineau-Delisle PhD Candidate

Background Most forests in Canada are located on public land Most forests in Canada are located on public land The responsibility for forest management is generally transferred to forest industry through licence or contract agreements The responsibility for forest management is generally transferred to forest industry through licence or contract agreements Some tensions exist concerning these licences and contracts, as communities want greater involvement in forest management Some tensions exist concerning these licences and contracts, as communities want greater involvement in forest management Proposed action: advisory committees for forest management Proposed action: advisory committees for forest management

Selection of committees Active, dealing with forest issues in Quebec Active, dealing with forest issues in Quebec Involving stakeholders other than government and forest industry Involving stakeholders other than government and forest industry Active at the forest management planning stage, or at the local or regional scale Active at the forest management planning stage, or at the local or regional scale Overall: Overall: 108 committees identified 108 committees identified 46 were surveyed 46 were surveyed 947 committees members contacted, 471 answered 947 committees members contacted, 471 answered

The committees: areas of concern Forest management plan: Forest management plan: 23 committees 23 committees Sponsor: forest industry Sponsor: forest industry Advise forest managers on management plans Advise forest managers on management plans Local Local 15 committees 15 committees Sponsor: mainly Regional County Municipality Sponsor: mainly Regional County Municipality Diverse mandate: advise managers, land-use issues, integrated forest management initiative Diverse mandate: advise managers, land-use issues, integrated forest management initiative Regional Regional 8 committees 8 committees Sponsor: diverse, including government, local elected oficials, other groups Sponsor: diverse, including government, local elected oficials, other groups Diverse mandate: overall involvement in strategic planning, Diverse mandate: overall involvement in strategic planning,

Duration of committees (in 2004)

Respondents’ profile Few women (18%) Few women (18%) From 15% for regional committees to 19% for local ones From 15% for regional committees to 19% for local ones Very little First Nations representation (3%) Very little First Nations representation (3%) Almost all involved at the forest management plan level Almost all involved at the forest management plan level Average age: 45 years Average age: 45 years

48% of respondents are economically dependent upon natural resources 48% of respondents are economically dependent upon natural resources Between 55% (local) and 75% (regional) have a university degree Between 55% (local) and 75% (regional) have a university degree Years of participation in committees: Years of participation in committees: Respondents’ profile

Reasons for involvement Concerns about the impact of the forest industry on the environment (96%) Concerns about the impact of the forest industry on the environment (96%) Want to contribute to planning because the forest is a public resource (91%) Want to contribute to planning because the forest is a public resource (91%) Concerns about forest industry jobs in the area (79%) Concerns about forest industry jobs in the area (79%) Want to learn more about local issues (74%) Want to learn more about local issues (74%) Required to attend as part of their job (70%) Required to attend as part of their job (70%) Invitation from committee sponsor (70%) Invitation from committee sponsor (70%) Much more common for regional committees (86%) Much more common for regional committees (86%) Want to ensure that recreational opportunities are not diminished (65%) Want to ensure that recreational opportunities are not diminished (65%) Much less common for regional committees (49%) Much less common for regional committees (49%)

Selected to represent:

Integration of values to decisions I believe that forest management decision makers consider all viewpoints I believe that forest management decision makers consider all viewpoints Decisions from this process succeed in accommodating full spectrum of public interests Decisions from this process succeed in accommodating full spectrum of public interests

Trust toward forest managers I trust forest managers to make the right choices about forest managementI trust forest managers to make the right choices about forest management

Participants’ satisfaction towards… Forest PlanLocalRegionalTOTAL Representativeness86%80%86%84% Quality of discussion 80%86%89%84% Sponsor efforts 83%78%94%82% Process in general 75%76%80%76% Members’ contribution 68%78%69%72% Decision-making process 66%73%72%70%

Process Fairness and Effectiveness The process is fair The process is fair The process is effective The process is effective

Impact of members on the process I am able to influence the decisions that are made by the committee I am able to influence the decisions that are made by the committee My effort is well spent in the process My effort is well spent in the process

Impact of process on forest management The decisions are easy to implement The decisions are easy to implement I am disappointed with past outcomes from this forest management process I am disappointed with past outcomes from this forest management process

Impact of process on forest management Decision makers regularly attend and participate in the committee’s activities. Decision makers regularly attend and participate in the committee’s activities. This group is effective at influencing local forest decision making. This group is effective at influencing local forest decision making.

Why the group influences decision making Why the group influences decision making Support from industry and government Support from industry and government Committee is influential Committee is influential Members’ participation Members’ participation Will to find consensus Will to find consensus Why the group does not influence decision making Why the group does not influence decision making Committees have little power themselves Committees have little power themselves Domination of industry and government Domination of industry and government Obstruction and distrust between members Obstruction and distrust between members Low integration of participants’ issues in the agenda Low integration of participants’ issues in the agenda High priority given to economic issues High priority given to economic issues Committees are only a facade for certification or politics Committees are only a facade for certification or politics

Conclusions Committees do bring together a range of interests, but some groups are underrepresented: Committees do bring together a range of interests, but some groups are underrepresented: First Nations, women, youth First Nations, women, youth Fairly positive assessment of process effectiveness Fairly positive assessment of process effectiveness Members of forest planning committees are more critical of the decision-making process and the capacity to accommodate a range of values Members of forest planning committees are more critical of the decision-making process and the capacity to accommodate a range of values Members of regional committees express the lowest confidence toward forest managers and see more difficulty in impacting forest management Members of regional committees express the lowest confidence toward forest managers and see more difficulty in impacting forest management Creating links between level of decision making (from regional to forest planning) is a challenge Creating links between level of decision making (from regional to forest planning) is a challenge Will need to be addressed with the new regional advisory commissions that are being designed Will need to be addressed with the new regional advisory commissions that are being designed