The COFI panel on conservation, consultation, certification, and careers brought together diverse voices from across the forest sector to explore how BC’s working forest can evolve to meet social, economic, and ecological expectations. Moderated by Jason Fisher, Executive Director of the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, the discussion featured Lennard Joe, CEO of the BC First Nations Forestry Council; Michael Reid, BC Program Director with Nature United; Kathy Abusow, President and CEO of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative; and Aspen Dudzic, Director of Communications at the Alberta Forest Products Association and lead for the Forestry Together campaign. Opening the session, Fisher framed the discussion as a turning point for the sector. “This conversation is about redefining what the working forest means—for people, not just for policy,” he said.

Lennard Joe answered with a call to action. “The way we’ve managed forests for 100 years isn’t going to work for the next 100,” he said. Joe emphasized that Indigenous communities want more than consultation—they want true inclusion in forest management, stewardship, and workforce development. “We want to be a part of this sector,” he said. “Not just at the start or the end, but throughout.” Joe argued that reconciliation in forestry means building new systems of governance, training, and economic opportunity. He pointed to the Indigenous Forestry Workforce Strategy and community-driven approaches as examples of what’s possible when Indigenous voices are respected. “We have the knowledge, the talent, and the right to be at the table,” he said. “And it’s time we build that table together.” He also grounded his comments in a long-term view: “Our ancestors thought seven generations ahead. We have to think that way too.”

Michael Reid echoed the theme of co-development. “Collaboration doesn’t mean we all agree,” he said. “It means we’re willing to work through the hard conversations.” Reid spoke about the need to design conservation solutions that support economic resilience, particularly in forest-dependent communities. “We’re not going to succeed by choosing between jobs and nature,” he said. “We need both.” Reid explained that Nature United’s work includes supporting landscape-level planning and Indigenous-led stewardship initiatives. He pointed to ongoing work with communities, licensees, and the provincial government as evidence that change is possible. “There’s a window here,” he said. “But we have to be willing to move from talk to implementation.”

Kathy Abusow brought a national and North American perspective. She said the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) has been working with companies and communities to support sustainable supply chains, improve Indigenous relations, and build trust in certification systems. “Sustainable forestry isn’t just about the forest,” she said. “It’s about people, water, climate, and communities.” Abusow said certification is evolving to reflect changing expectations around biodiversity, climate adaptation, and cultural values. She said SFI is seeing growing demand for evidence-based metrics and transparency. “We can’t just say we’re doing good work—we have to prove it,” she said. She also described certification as a tool for trust-building: “It’s a common language we can all work from.” She emphasized the importance of creating pathways for youth and underrepresented groups to see a future in forestry. “We need to change the faces of forestry,” she said. “If people don’t see themselves in this sector, they won’t see it as a career.”

That theme was picked up by Aspen Dudzic, who described the Forestry Together campaign as a response to negative perceptions and misinformation about forestry. “We were losing the narrative,” she said. “So we decided to tell our own story.” Dudzic said the campaign focuses on authentic, community-driven stories that highlight forestry’s role in innovation, sustainability, and livelihoods. “We’re not talking at people—we’re talking with them,” she said. “And we’re showing what forestry really looks like today.” She added, “What forestry looks like in Whitecourt is different than Campbell River. That matters.” She said one of the biggest challenges is overcoming outdated stereotypes. “People still think forestry is chainsaws and clearcuts,” she said. “But it’s drones, data, climate solutions, and community partnerships.”

Fisher asked what it will take to build a forest sector that is genuinely inclusive and future-focused. He noted that reconciliation in forestry must mean more than symbolic gestures: “It’s not just about recognition—it’s about responsibility. Reconciliation means shared stewardship.” He also reflected on the expanding skill sets the industry now demands. “We’re not just hiring foresters anymore—we’re hiring data scientists, drone pilots, community planners.” Joe answered, “It’s going to take courage. It’s going to take willingness to give up some control and co-create new systems.” He emphasized that Indigenous communities are not looking for handouts or token roles. “We want to lead,” he said. “We want to be accountable.”

Reid added that shared leadership requires shared investment. “We need to fund partnerships, not just announce them,” he said. “That means resourcing people, training, and local capacity.” Abusow said industry has a role to play in making space for emerging leaders and new ideas. “We need to get out of our silos,” she said. “And we need to start measuring success in terms of impact, not just output.” Dudzic closed with a challenge: “If we want forestry to have a future, we have to invite the next generation into the conversation. Not later—now.”