British Columbia will test a landscape-level forest management model designed to provide greater certainty for timber production while advancing conservation, wildfire resilience and ecosystem restoration.
The proposed Working Forest Landscape Model would organize selected areas into three interconnected management zones: working forest, multiple use, and conservation and protection.
The province is working with First Nations to identify candidate landscapes. Targeted engagement with industry, local governments and other interested parties will also inform the initial phase. The selected locations are expected to be announced in fall 2026.
The model remains exploratory and has not been adopted across British Columbia. The province plans to begin testing the approach in selected landscapes before launching broader public engagement, which will follow an assessment of the initial results.
Working-forest zones would prioritize sustainable timber production and provide a more predictable operating base for forest companies, workers and communities. The model is intended to move planning away from permit-by-permit harvesting toward a more predictable, long-term framework requiring fewer permitting processes.
Multiple-use zones would accommodate activities such as wildfire risk reduction, ecosystem restoration, watershed protection, habitat enhancement and climate adaptation. Carefully managed forestry could continue within these areas.
Conservation and protection zones would focus primarily on biodiversity and ecological integrity. The province says these areas would support its commitment to protect 30% of British Columbia’s land base by 2030 and complement implementation of the Old Growth Action Plan.
The government is also considering a no-net-loss principle for both working-forest and conservation zones. Under that concept, the amount of land assigned to each category would remain stable over time. The province cautioned that this provision and other elements of the model still require further development.
The approach is intended to complement existing forest landscape plans, land-use plans and First Nations-led initiatives rather than replace them. Detailed management decisions would continue to be developed through those planning processes.
British Columbia says the model could help stabilize an economic forest land base contributing to an annual timber harvest of 45 million cubic metres. It is also intended to improve investment certainty as the provincial forest sector faces mill closures, fibre-supply constraints, weak pulp markets and ongoing U.S. duties and tariffs.
Recent setbacks include Canfor’s planned permanent closure of the Northwood pulp mill in Prince George and Domtar’s decision to indefinitely idle the Howe Sound pulp mill and Bayview Fibre chipping facility in Port Mellon.
Labour support and environmental concerns
The United Steelworkers, which represents close to 10,000 forestry workers in British Columbia, described the proposed model as a step in the right direction but urged the government to move quickly.
The union said a clearly defined working forest could provide greater certainty around fibre supply, local manufacturing and employment. It is also calling for legislation establishing a forestry jobs protection commissioner to help prevent avoidable mill closures and preserve viable jobs.
Sierra Club BC has raised concerns about how the zones will be defined. The organization warned that linking the model to a timber-harvest target without clear conservation safeguards could place additional pressure on remaining old-growth forests.
The environmental group has called for extensive consultation with First Nations and the public. The province says development of the zones will involve First Nations, communities, industry representatives, local governments, ecologists and foresters.
Sources: Government of British Columbia, Working Forest Landscape Model, United Steelworkers, Canfor, Domtar
