Dane Pedersen

A Faculty of Forestry & Environmental Stewardship (FES) researcher whose work explores BC forest governance, policy and Indigenous-settler relations shares why this moment of transition in the forest sector may offer a reason for hope. British Columbia’s forests are changing, and so is the way we think about managing them. For decades, forest policy has largely centered on timber production. However, several emerging elements are challenging that model, including fewer high-value trees, recommendations for ecosystem health legislation in the province’s Old Growth Strategic Review, ecological uncertainty from climate change and growing demands from communities wanting a greater voice in land-use decisions. For Dane Pedersen, a UBC FES PhD student, this moment of transition presents an opportunity to rethink not only how forests are managed, but who gets to shape their future. …We spoke with her about this transition and her current research.