About Sustainable Forests, Resilient Industry
Forestry is a domain of extremes. Severe weather. Decade-long economic slumps followed by vertiginous price swings. Multi-decade trade wars. Big trees. Tiny insects.
Opinions about forestry are just as varied. “Industry vs. the environment” disputes typically get the most media attention, but subtle differences of opinion exist between and even among a wide range of forest stakeholders. Science helps provide answers, but even among scientists there can often be dissenting voices. Thus, multiple interest groups each claim the science to be on their side.
Further, some questions are hard to answer conclusively even with the backing of science. For example, although we can model climate change, we still do not know for sure what will happen. Likewise, economic models (also a form of science) can help us plan for future markets – but these are also notoriously imperfect. Moreover, some questions cannot be answered with data alone; rather, they require a value judgement.
This monthly blog will investigate questions that have multiple answers, either due to competing viewpoints or to future uncertainty, and explore what this means for planning and decision-making. By subscribing, you will receive an e-mailed copy. Thank you for joining me.
About Alice Palmer
I am a freelance writer, researcher, and consultant with 20-plus years of experience in the Canadian forest industry. By training, I am a social scientist, forest products marketer, and forester; by nature, I am a curious generalist. I did my PhD at The University of British Columbia and my MBA at the University of New Brunswick. I have lived in small town BC, New Brunswick, Quebec, northern and southern Ontario and the Yukon, and now live in Richmond, BC. My work has appeared in Wood Markets Monthly International Report, BC Forest Professional, Truck LoggerBC, BioProducts Business, the Canadian Science Publishing Blog, and the Victoria Times Colonist.
