A broad coalition of public interest groups reacted with outrage today at Dan Miller's call for privatization of the public's forests. Aboriginal rights and titles have not been ceded or surrendered by way of treaty. Corporatization of our public forests is bad for British Columbian's today and in the future.
Forests are more than just fibre farms.
They are fish habitat, homes for endangered species, drinking water, tourism jobs and our children's future. Giving our forest lands to corporations means the public and communities that depend on forestry would have no input into how our most important resource is managed. Decisions affecting our future would be made in corporate boardrooms. The overwhelming response of B.C.s communities to the governments community forest pilot project clearly demonstrates a growing demand for more public involvement in forest management, not less. The current tenure system favours corporate control and already limits opportunities for long-term community stewardship.