support makes the Directory

more valuable as a resource

and contributes to the success

of sector overall. Please

contact Jenny for more

information and advertising

rates, and also remember to

submit your renewal form by

March 15, 2010. If you know

of another ‗wild‘ business you

would like to refer, the New

Listing application is now

available online.

The research agenda has been

busy as well. CNTR is involved

in several projects in Northern

-Interior BC investigating the

impacts of timber harvesting

and the Mountain Pine Beetle

on non-timber forest products

(NTFPs). The work focuses on

developing guidelines to

assess and to estimate NTFP

quality, so that plants that are

v a l u e d f o r t h e i r

c u l t u r a l ,

subsistence, and

economic benefits

can be incorporated

into conventional

v e g e t a t i o n

in v e nt or ie s . I t

i s a h i g h l y

c o l l a b o r a t i v e

p r o j e c t , w i t h

p a r t n e r s

c o n t r i b u t i n g

e x p e r t i s e i n

traditional and local

k n o w l e d g e ,

ecological field data

collection and analysis,

l i t er a t ur e r ev ie w a nd

assessment, and geographic

information systems (GIS)

techniques to develop

predictive maps of high

(Continued on page 5)

At the time of publishing the

last newsletter we were in the

final stages of preparation for

the annual ―Shop the Wild‖

festival at RRU. It was a great

success! The weather was

beautiful and over 2300

people came to the Mews

Conference Centre at RRU,

browsing and buying from 35

exhibitors. Presentations

were standing room only as

Jay Lesosky gave a great

p r e s e n t a t i o n o n w i l d

mushrooms, and returning

presenters Andy MacKinnon

and John Defayette told us

about NTFP aphrodisiacs and

the benefits of backyard urban

beekeeping. A slideshow of

highlights from the Festival is

available online. Once again,

we wholeheartedly thank our

exhibitors, volunteers and

staff at Royal Roads

University for their

continued support.

In November 2009,

CNTR hosted a one

day Forum on

NTFRs: Linking

Research, Policy

and Economic Op-

p o r t u n i t i e s

i n N a n a i m o .

A t t e n d a n c e

e x c e e d e d o u r

expectations with

o v e r 9 0

participants. We

were delighted to

have strong representation of

from the Canadian Model

Forest Network and the Forest

Communities Program from

across Canada. The 15

speakers included business

owners who shared practical

experience, researchers and

government representatives

who discussed ecology and

management, consumer

perceptions and policy, and

representatives of a range of

innovative development and

s u p p o r t i n i t i a t i v e s .

Proceedings from the Forum

and a copy of the full program

are available online.

We are now preparing the

2010/2011 edition of Buy

BCwild. We surveyed listees in

December as part of an

evaluation of the costs and

benefits of publishing the

Directory. 56 respondents

provided some positive

endorsements, and some

excellent suggestions. We are

continuing to improve the

Directory and working to in-

crease circulation to 30,000

copies. The 2010/2011 edition

will be available at BC Ferries‘

Tsawwassen Terminal this

year. The Tsawwassen-Swartz

Bay route is BC Ferries‘

busiest, with over 21 million

riders in 2002. We invite

relevant businesses to

consider advertising in the

upcoming edition. Your

Welcome

I n s i d e t h i s

i s s u e :

Non-timber Tidbts 2

Small Scale Food

Processors

Association

3

Mycosilviculture 4

Word from the

Woods

6

The Challenge of

Managing Non-

Timber Forest Re-

sources Part 2

8

B u y B C w i l d

w w w . b u y b c w i l d .

c o m

C e n t r e f o r N o n

- T i m b e r

R e s o u r c e s

( C N T R )

w w w . r o y a l r o a d s

. c a / c n t r

A Future Beneath the Trees W i n t e r 2 0 1 0 V o l u m e I , I s s u e 3

S p e c i a l p o i n t s

o f i n t e r e s t :

CNTR Updates

Non-Timber Tidbits

Shop the Wild 2009

A F u t u r e

B e n e a t h

t h e

T r e e s

Non-Timber Tidbit: Mosses- the stuff of special dreams

P a g e 2

getting into their dens bears will eat mosses and

other tough fibrous vegetation, in effect producing

an ―anal plug‖ that keeps them from defecating

through the winter.

Being food-focused to a fault in my foraging, the

many ecological and human values claimed

by mosses are an inspirational reminder for me to

keep a broad outlook. Consider

that historically, dry mosses were

used as diapers and as menstrual

pads – their combination of

absorbency and large air spaces

would effectively wick moisture

away, while providing mild

antiseptic properties that no doubt

prevented diaper rash. They were

used as lamp wicks, scrubbing

dishes, insulation for humans

(Otzi, the ―Iceman‖ preserved in

the European Alps, had his

boots packed with Neckera moss

to keep his toes warm) and for

homes (e.g. chinking cracks in log

cabins), a component of artisan

works, and used in food

preparat ion. Salmon were

scrubbed with moss prior to

being dried, while camas

pit-cooks used moss as a source

of steam during the cooking. Linnaeus, the father of

modern plant taxonomy, bedded down on a portable

bedroll made of polytrichum moss during

his botanical explorations. It is not known whether

he used a pillow made of Hypnum moss (think

‗hypnosis‘) that was said to impart special dreams to

the sleeper.

Human use of moss today is focused on epiphytic

mosses (those that grow on trees) as

(Continued on page 3)

Mosses are an entrenched and enchanting part of all

forests, and none more so than in the Pacific Northwest.

This is because mosses need moisture in order

to photosynthesize (and thus produce

energy); dry moss cannot grow or reproduce.

While other plants have roots that soak up

water and nutrients from the ground, and

strategies to conserve water, mosses absorb

them directly from the air, from rain and

spray water, and thus grow most abundantly

in consistently moist places. Luckily for them,

mosses are poikilohydric- they dry out when

the environment is dry, but can revive again

once conditions are wetter.

Most plants, if dried out

completely, will wilt and

die. By absorbing and

retaining water from air

vapour and slowly releasing

it to the ground, mosses

actually contribute water to

the forest, keeping the soil

moist for trees and other

plants to grow. As mosses

increase, so does humidity from their

‗ ex h a la t io ns ‘ , br i ngi ng a bou t

favourable conditions for even

m o r e m o s s t o g r o w .

Their role in forest ecology is tied to,

and goes far beyond, wat er

balance. Mosses are preferred

seedbeds for many tree seedlings;

they get woven into the nests

of many bird species (often

providing a cushion for their eggs); they are food for

slugs; and countless insects and fungi depend on them

for habitat. Large wet moss mats may contribute to the

infrequent fire cycle in our regional forests - lightning

may smolder on moist moss, but will never ignite. Ferns

and other plants that grow on trees do not root directly

into the tree bark; they depend on moss to be a

substrate. Mosses are not eaten by most animals

(including humans) due to the tough compounds in their

tissues and their low nutritional value. This is used to

good advantage by hibernating bears though- prior to

Dicranum — courtesy of Forestry Images

A F u t u r e B e n e a t h t h e T r e e s

Upcoming Events

Conference: New Partners—New Opportunities.

March 12-14, 2010.

www.bcfarmersmarket.org/conference/

index.htm

Your listings for the next edition of the Buy

BCwild Directory are due! March 15, 2010

is the deadline. Find the application form here:

http://buybcwild.com/buy-bcwild-directory

Questions: bcwild@royalroads.ca 250.391.2600

X 4348

“The continual

exhalation of

mosses gives the

temperate rain

forest much of its

essential character;

from bird song to

banana slugs… it

seems as if the

entire forest is

stitched together

with threads of

moss"

R.W. Kimmerer

P a g e 3 V o l u m e 1 I s s u e 3

The Small Scale Food Processor Association (SSFPA)

provides education, training, strategic development and

industry specific information to assist small scale food

processors. The organization was founded 8 years ago by

industry participants representing every link in the value

chain. The past year, 2009, was another monumental

year for the SSFPA. Our award winning Food Safety

Initiative was, yet again, successful; our membership

continues to grow and ongoing opportunities continue to

develop. We are proud sponsors of our industry, a

unified voice to government bodies, and provide a forum

for like-minded entrepreneurs to communicate and get

together.

The specialty food industry in Canada is very diverse and

has posted a year-after-year growth rate of over

25%. Our membership consists of companies who are in

step with food trends and consumer taste. These

businesses process products including fine preserves,

organic baby food, wild smoked seafood, gluten free

products, nut free products, grass fed beef, high quality

organic vegetables, nutrition snacks, and many

more. These are high growth businesses that create local

employment and support local suppliers and their

communities; they are innovators who can compete in an

international market place.

The association hosts a web-site which includes an up-to-

date online directory of over 800 specialty food products,

a wealth of information on implementing your food

safety plans and links to resources to assist with business

needs and archives of all past activities. In 2009, the

SSFPA hosted and co-hosted over 30 industry specific

workshops and collaborated with BC Association of

Farmers Markets, the BC Agri-Tourism Alliance and

others for the ―New Partners – New

Opportunities‖ conference and trade show. Stay tuned

for the 2010 ―New Partners – New Opportunities – Real

People Talking to Real People events."

Through the collaborative efforts of the board of

directors, the members and the executive director the

association has gained credibility and notoriety on a

national level. This allows the association the

opportunity to provide input on critical initiatives that

impact the growth of our sector.

decorative floral products. Every year tens of millions of

kilograms of moss are harvested from the Pacific

Northwest, bringing in tens of millions of dollars. Much of

this takes place in National Forests of Oregon and

Washington, but includes British Columbia (for which les

information is available). Moss harvest has been significant

since the 1940s, originally for use as a fruit-packing

material, and has increased in the past couple decades as

alternatives to timber harvest are sought. It has shifted

from patchy harvesting by local residents looking to

supplement their income, to full time strip harvesting by

seasonal crews from outside the region. While regulations

exist, they are criticized as being insufficient and poorly

enforced. Modeling exercises project the depletion of

mosses in some areas if current harvesting rates continue,

and some National Forests have enacted a moratorium

until better management can be demonstrated. Ecologists

are working to develop guidelines based on scientific and

local knowledge of moss distribution and growth patterns.

Peat moss harvesting from our boreal forests for use in

gardening is a full topic for another ‗Non-timber Tidbit‘.

A less commercial human use of moss is to monitor

pollutant levels. Mosses usually lack a protective cuticle,

and so they readily absorb heavy metals and other

substances from the air and rainwater. Since they are often

widespread, abundant, and grow in regular patterns,

they can be appropriate tools for ―bio-monitoring‖

pollution over time and space.

Recipes for such a non-edible plant being scarce, the

following recipe for Jamaican Sea Moss Drink, while

having no relation to mosses as we know them, may be

appropriate, as it includes the tropical non-timber forest

products cinnamon, nutmeg, and the beautiful orchid

vanilla, as well as the red algae carrageen:

1.3 L water

15 g dried carrageen

400 g condensed milk

1 cinnamon stick

2 tsp linseed /flaxseed (optional)

Freshly-grated nutmeg

Few drops of vanilla extract

(Continued from page 2)

(Continued on page 5)

Non-Timber Tidbit…..cont. The Small Scale Food

Processor Association

The Small Scale Food Processor Association

website: www.ssfpa.net

email: info@ssfpa.net

Toll Free:1-866-547-7372

recently and the mushroom

response monitored in 2008 and

2009 (results not yet available).

Preliminary results from 2008

varied from site to site. At a

spruce and fir site that had

received all treatments but dead

wood removal, the production of

king boletes in the 0.45 ha

t r e a t e d z o n e w a s 5 0 5

mushrooms (~1100 boletes per

hectare) and in the 0.9 ha

untreated zone was 57

mushrooms (~60 boletes per

hectare). At a pine site that had

been thinned, opened, and

cleared of dead wood, there was

a similar di fference in

production of slippery jacks

between the treated (~1400

slippery jacks per hectare) and

untreated zones. Whether these

results continue and can be

attributed to treatment remains

to be seen but at the outset they

appear quite promising.

No manual exists to guide the

mycosiliculturist, so there is still

a need for research and

communication of results. As a

Mycosilviculture is the management

of forest stands for mushroom

production. Of growing importance

in Europe, mycosilviculture is little

known and even less practiced in

B C . I n J a p a n , t r a d i t i o n a l

management of forests that produce

matsutake or pine mushrooms can

include thinning of overstory and

u n d e r s t o r y v e g e t a t i o n a n d

manipulation of the forest floor. I

recently attended the International

Colloquium on Edible Forest

Mushrooms with Commercial

Potential held in Quebec City where

I learned that mycosilviculture is

being researched in eastern Canada,

notably Quebec.

One study of particular interest to

future mycosilviculturists in BC is

that of Marc-André Bernard in the

Municipality of Cascapedia –

Saint-Jules in the Gaspe region of

Quebec. At seven sites with

plantations of spruce, fir, poplar and

white birch aged 15 – 45 years,

various mycosilvicultural treatments

were applied including thinning of

the overstory, pruning, creation of

openings, removal of standing and

fallen dead wood, removal of the

understory, and irrigation. The

concepts underlying the treatments

were reduction of competition for

water and nutrients by eliminating

the understory vegetation, opening

the canopy to allow in light and

warmth, and reduction of woody

substrate for decomposer fungi. The

mushrooms of interest in these

stands are all ectomycorrhizal,

including chanterelles, king boletes,

slippery jacks and milk caps; it is

believed that decomposer fungi

might compete with them for

resources.

The treatments were installed quite

f i r s t s t e p , a d o p t i o n o f

mycosilviculture in BC would

probably have to focus on private land

as it has elsewhere; on Crown Land

there is currently no tenure

mechanism that would keep the fruits

of the labour in the hands of the

labourer.

P a g e 4

Mycosilviculture

A F u t u r e B e n e a t h t h e T r e e s

“Whether these

results continue and

can be attributed to

treatment remains

to be seen but at the

outset they appear

quite promising.”

Boletus edulis buttons Mesachie Lake.

Shannon Berch is a research scientist with the

Research Branch, British Columbia Ministry

of Forests and Range, working on soil conser-

vation and commercially harvested wild

mushrooms.

P a g e 5 V o l u m e 1 I s s u e 3

Little rum to serve (optional)

Soak the carrageen in cold water for about 15 minutes.

Drain and place it in a saucepan with water,

cinnamon and linseed and bring this mixture to a boil and

cook until it begins to thicken. Strain the mixture using a

sieve and discard the seaweed, linseed and cinnamon

stick. Pour the liquid back in a pan and add condensed

milk, vanilla essence and freshly-grated nutmeg. Boil the

mixture and whisk vigorously to cool it. When this mix-

ture begins to set, whisk it again vigorously and when the

mixture cools, whisk once again and then finally cool it in

the refrigerator. Before serving, whisk it again and,

if you so desire, add a dash of rum.

The Centre for Non-Timber Resources at Royal

Roads University does applied research to support the

development and wise use of natural resources as a way to

diversify and sustain rural and resource-dependant

economies. We work in partnership with First Nations and

other communities, industry, all levels of governments

and a wide range of other organizations to understand and

improve the contribution of the natural products and

services to livelihoods, employment- and income-

generation, and sustainability. For more information

p l e a s e c o n t a c t u s ( h t t p : / /

cntr.royalroads.ca)!

For more NTFP Corner ‗tidbits‘, please

visit: www.buybcwild.com/from-ntfp-

corner-0

Non-Timber Tidbit…..cont.

quality NTFP habitat. Data from two field seasons in the

Burns Lake area and one season in each of the Fort St

James and Likely areas are currently being analyzed.

Research investigating the risks of contamination in

traditionally harvested wild plants, done in collaboration

with Splats‘in colleagues in the BC Interior (reported in the

last newsletter) is near completion. We recently completed

an assessment of opportunities for forest-products based

industries in for the Northeast Superior Forest Community

in Ontario. We have also recently concluded a CIDA-

funded project in western Siberia focused on the

development of a diversification centre to support natural

resource based enterprises; a Russian-English publication

outlining opportunities to support NTFP sector

development is in progress.

In January we used the ―Photovoice‖ method in Laos as a

tool to explore local perceptions, values and aspirations

relating to natural resources use and local development. It

was a fun and exciting exercise for participants in two

villages. None had ever used a camera previously, but they

produced some wonderful images and then contributed

excellent explanations of what they meant and why they

were important. The work continues - an American PhD

student will lead workshops in four more villages in the

research area, and we will replicate the proc-

ess later in the year in Cameroon. We are

using the information to help develop an

indicators-based livelihoods monitoring tool,

to be implemented by a local-government

agency, and we are testing and refining the

method itself.

CNTR is continuing to develop extension

m a t e r i a l t o

engage the wider community, including

weekly Roadspiel articles (―Non-Timber

Tidbits‖) describing the diverse

values of different NTFPs growing in Canada

(http://cntr.royalroads.ca/node/195), and

two new publications done in partnership

with the Ministry of Forests :

Understanding Non-Timber Forest Prod-

ucts: Activity on the Landbase, and Non-

timber Forest Products, Tourism, and Small

Scale Forestry: Income Opportunities and

Constraints. These links will be available on

t h e C N T R w e b s i t e : h t t p : / /

cntr.royalroads.ca/publications

“The research agenda has

been busy as well. CNTR

is involved in several

projects in Northern-

Interior BC investigating

the impacts of timber

harvesting and the

Mountain Pine Beetle on

non-timber forest

products (NTFPs). ”

Shop the Wild 2009

Welcome…..cont.

After the Storm – Collecting Balsam

Poplar Bud

‗Tacamahac‘ is the name given to the resinous substance

exuded from the winter/spring bud of 10 species of balsam

poplar, including western balsam poplar (Populus

balsamifera spp.trichocarpa).

Note: western balsam poplar and black

cottonwood are two common names used

for the same tree and are used

interchangeably here.

The sheer energy of the storm thundering

on the tin roof of our cabin gave pause to

the day. I had just drained the last of our

tacamahac tincture into two small glass

bottles bringing an end to last year‘s

supply of flu and cold remedy. We used

more this year due to the H1N1 scare and

so were dangerously low on supplies and

only half way through the ―flu season‖.

So ,in the first light of dawn, cleaning the

sticky tacamahac resin off my hands, I

watched the grey light of day slowly

unveiling the warring weather outside; today was the day,

perfect after a storm, for gathering the winter bud of the

Black Cottonwood tree.

The road down the Chemainus River is a rough one, gutted

and washed out in areas, more a suggestion of a road than an

actual facilitator of transport. Sand met gravel, the river

could be seen through the trees, magically the sky cleared

and the rain drops on the windshield were lit up with a

thousand tiny rainbows! Now the morning lay still and

breathless, heart barely beating beneath the plunder of

flattened ferns and broken branches, the beach with its sand

dunes were covered in an assortment of small stunted trees -

balsam fir and douglas fir, willows and cottonwood, further

down the beach stood the elder grandmother to this

generation of young cottonwood. I make an offering of

tobacco to her in recognition but I gather from the younger

ones. Moving gracefully from branch to branch, tree to tree, I

begin gathering the tacamahac, leaving behind the buds not

yet developed, for leaves in the spring.

In the sunshine of the day, the rich red branches of the young

balsam poplar, fringed in resinous amber hues, is beauty

defined in a moment. The sticky sweet resin coating my

fingers, are a sure sign that they are ripe and flowing with

potent sap. Tacamahac season comes early on the west coast

- January/February – and lasts only a couple of weeks, so the

window of opportunity is a small one and can move

P a g e 6 V o l u m e 1 I s s u e 3

Word from the Woods….

A F u t u r e B e n e a t h t h e T r e e s

Again, a

reminder that

we are only

one in this

circle of life

working on the

beach today.

Our baskets

are full to over

flowing...

surprisingly fast from under ripe to over ripe. These buds were

perfect!

My partner whistles down river, he has found a blowdown, a

tree shattered by last night‘s storm, lying uprooted on the sand.

―Windfall‖ – a gift from the wind! It will not need its resin now,

so we can strip the tree bare filling our containers quickly and

easily. A hawk circles above – red tail – I stop to watch it,

watching us. Down river I hear the call of the eagles and the

squawk of seagulls feeding together on the last of the salmon

run. Again, a reminder that we are only one in this circle of life

working on the beach today. Our baskets are full to over

flowing, tacamahac medicine will be in abundance this coming

year. I offer

thanks to the

wind, the

water, sky and

earth for the

medicine that

will help us

through.

This is

the first

m e d i c i n e

g a t h e r i n g

of the year,

it will be

a n o t h e r

month before stinging nettles “sing in” the spring

Balsam Poplar - Every part of the tree can be used;

buds, young leaves, bark, even the roots if you had a

mind to it. Its many purported uses include: an

immune boost for flu and colds, for lung and

respiratory problems, arthritis, rheumatism, heart

weakness, infections and inflammation, digestion and

diabetes. It contains antiseptic, astringent, antiviral

and antibiotic properties. This tree is truly an

under-rated and unrecognized prize from our forests!

Bees make propolis from resin collected from the

balsam poplar, and use it to seal and protect their

hives from intruders and disease.

Always consult a professional herbalist before using

any plants from our forests.

Balsam Poplar buds….

Sheila Wray is the owner of HedgeWych Wylds

"dedicated to the preservation of the wild lands and their folk herbal knowledge"

www.hedgewychwylds.blogspot.com

P a g e 7

A F u t u r e B e n e a t h t h e T r e e s

In Part 1 of this discussion, I

introduced some of the characteristics

a n d s u b s e q u e n t

m a n a g e m e n t

challenges associated

with non-timber forest

resources (NTFRs).

These challenges focus

on the type of resource,

the difficulty in limit-

ing access and the

resulting incentive to

o v e r - h a r v e s t ,

the difficulty for

i n d i v i d u a l s t o

c o o r d i n a t e t h e i r

activities to ensure that

harvesting is done

appropriately, and how

we can encourage

investment in the

resource. In this part I

discuss how that coordination may

happen and provide an example of one

approach that could lead to a better

appreciation of NTFRs and their

incorporation into forest management

practices. The starting point, however,

is to appreciate that not all NTFRs need

coordination and many are just fine as

access, such as directing the use of

certain harvest methods, the level of

harvest, and a need to provide

information to some authority. Those

who do not have tenure are expected to

respect the rights of those that do.

Tenure can be used to put limits on the

number of individuals accessing a

particular area. But limiting the

number or entrants does not

necessarily mean that harvesting will

occur at a sustainable level. Rules may

P a g e 8

The Challenge of Managing Non-Timber Forest Resources Part 2: One approach to the management question

A F u t u r e B e n e a t h t h e T r e e s

Coordination among

individuals using the

same landbase for

their livelihoods helps

reduce but does not

necessarily eliminate

incentives to

overharvest...

they are. Others, however, may

benefit from more attention.

Coordination among individuals

using the same landbase for their

livelihoods helps reduce but does not

necessarily eliminate incentives to

overharvest, use practices that

damage the resource, or disregard the

values of others who also rely on the

same landbase. By coordinate I mean

that users will communicate with

each other to organize when, where

and how harvest activities, or some

other action, will take place and that

they will respect each other‘s values.

The vision of many individuals acting

together in this manner, while it can

and does happen, is rather hard to

imagine, let alone implement on a

large and diverse working forest

landscape, especially a public

landbase.

If individuals cannot coordinate their

activities, how can we ensure the

resource is used appropriately?

Tenure is a tool that governments use

to coordinate the actions of many

individuals on public land. Rules

usually accompany this right of

The Buy BCwild Initiative and the Centre for Non-Timber Resources would

like to thank our partners for their continued support of the Initiative.

V o l u m e 1 I s s u e 3

also be required to set harvest limits and direct harvest

methods.

Should NTFRs be tenured? The challenge facing NTFRs is to

provide a tenure that is effective and not too costly to

implement. For example, how does one ensure that a salal

tenure located over a 100, 2000 or 30,000 hectare area will

not be accessed by others who are either unaware of the

tenure boundary, or choose to enter the area regardless of the

tenure right? What about personal

and other non-commercial uses?

The forest related tenure that we

normally think of, such as a tree

farm licence or community forest

agreement may not be appropriate

for NTFRs, at least in all areas for all

products.

The purpose of a tenure, or any

other policy means to manage the

harvest of NTFRs is to create the

conditions where,

1. the right number of people are

able to access the resource, and

2. they have the incentive to invest

in the resource by harvesting at a

sustainable level and finding ways of

enhancing the resource.

If government were to decide to

intervene in the management of

NTFRs, what could it do? One

management proposal for NTFRs

would involve a restructuring of forest management through

a separation of the timber harvesting function from the

post-harvest silviculture function. This would involve

separating the actual process of felling, processing and

marketing of timber from the post-harvest silviculture

reforestation and stand tending function, where a focus on

NTFR production would broaden the comprehensiveness and

potential benefits of joint production. There is significant

potential for local participation in this form of management,

especially among First Nations.

The value of NTFRs to most timber companies is too low to

consider, yet people in the hundreds and in some places the

thousands access the forest landbase to harvest NTFRs.

Those who rely on NTFRs for their livelihood are more likely

to invest in a variety of management activities if they can be

relatively assured of reaping the benefits of that investment.

A silviculture tenure, or whatever name we use to describe an

inter-harvest tenure, may support such investment. While

P a g e 9 V o l u m e 1 I s s u e 3

A F u t u r e B e n e a t h t h e T r e e s

The value of

NTFRs to most

timber companies

is too low to

consider, yet

people in the

hundreds and in

some places the

thousands access

the forest landbase

to harvest NTFRs.

Those who rely on

NTFRs for their

livelihood are more

likely to invest in a

variety of

management

activities

the reforestation effort would continue, with replanting initiated

by the silviculture tenure holder, the landbase would be tended

by the inter-harvest company until the next rotation. Within

that area and rotation timeline, the new company would seek to

maximize a range of values it identifies as important, potentially

marketing various berry related products, to boughs and related

products, edible wild mushrooms, and personal care products

(soaps and tinctures), for example. An example of compatible

practices include pruning, which could be undertaken to both

maximize the value of the timber and to provide boughs for the

production of a variety of Christmas and holiday products.

Other examples include the fertilization of timber stands in

coastal forests that may increase both timber and salal yields.

This example of an inter-harvest silviculture tenure provides

one approach focusing on providing a beneficial management

arrangement for NTFRs. It may not work for all areas and all

species. The intent here is to promote a discussion about how

to move forward, or how to be prepared when government asks

for input on how best to manage NTFRs. To some, that

response may be to leave well enough alone. To others, far

more should be done. What is your idea?

Sinclair is an economist with the BC Ministry of Forests and Range and is also

completing his PhD in Forest Resources Management at the Faculty of Forestry

UBC. The thoughts represented here are Sinclair Tedder‘s and do not necessarily

reflect those of the BC Ministry of Forests and Range

Light: 1st John Cox; 2nd Lawrence

Lampson from Glenora Farm; 3rd

Cordell Sandquist

Medium: 1st Cordell Sandquist; 2nd

Mountain Valley Farm; 3rd Norm

Bumstead

Dark: 1st Cordell Sanquist; 2nd Brian

Godkins; 3rd Harbour House Hotel,

Saltspring Island

Best in Show: Cordell Sandquist

The unique flavour of West Coast maple

syrup attracted visitors from all over

V a n c o u v e r I s l a n d o n

Saturday February 6, 2010. "The festival

was a huge success with over 2,300

visitors in attendance," says Aimee

Greenaway, Program and Collections

Coordinator at the BC Forest Discovery

Centre.

"Visitors participated in tapping and

syrup making demonstrations, sampled

local maple syrup and enjoyed the

festival atmosphere. This year, we

expanded to include a Slow Food Canada

maple tasting workshop hosted by Mara

Jernigan and a variety of delicious maple

-flavoured foods provided by the

Cowichan Valley Inn."

The maple syrup contest drew 21

entrants from all over Vancouver Island

and the Lower Mainland and was judged

by Don Genova, Mara Jernigan, and Bill

Jones. Contest winners for 2010 are:

Judge's Choice: Mountain Valley Farm

"The quality of syrup was impressive

this year," says Gary Backlund, local

maple syrup producer. "Sap

production was dramatically lower this

season, likely due to unseasonably

warm temperatures, but the Sapsuck-

ers still managed to create syrup and

food products that were better than

ever."

Almost half of the visitors travelled

from outside the Cowichan region to

attend the festival. "This is truly a

Vancouver Island event," says

Greenaway. "The Bigleaf Maple Syrup

Fest ival creates an excel lent

opportunity to showcase the Cowichan

region to Island visitors. We look

forward to welcoming new maple

tappers and more workshops at next

year's festival."

The Sweetest Festival of the Season!

www.buybcwild.com

Centre for Non-Timber Resources (CNTR)

2005 Sooke Rd

Victoria, BC

V9B 5Y2

Phone: 250.391.2600 ext 4348

Fax: 250.391.2563

E-mail: bcwild@royalroads.ca

www.royalroads.ca/cntr

The Buy BCwild Initiative‘s goal is ―to

support the ethical and sustainable de-

velopment of BC‘s wild sector and to im-

prove the contribution of forest re-

sources to livelihoods, employment and

i n c o m e g e n e r a t i o n i n r ur a l

communities.‖

The Initiative uses four main activities to

work towards meeting this goal:

Buy BCwild Directory

Shop the Wild Festival & Toolkit

BCwild Conference

Newsletter: A Future Beneath the

Trees

Buy BCwild

A Future Beneath the Trees

Published three times per year by the CNTR. Submission

deadline is the 10th of the previous month.

CNTR Director: Brian Belcher

Coordinator, Education and Capacity Building: Tim Brigham

Newsletter Editor: Sheldon Kitzul