Resource Assistant at the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Operations, and Rural Development in Victoria, BC
For my third co-op work term, I am working as a Resource Assistant for the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resources, Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) in Victoria B.C. My primary job is to create best practices and permitting options for the commercial harvesting of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), which includes berries, mushrooms, moss, bark, and so on. Most of my time has been dedicated to learning and researching topics such as permitting regimes and systems in other jurisdictions, First Nation involvement and their current and future role in the management of NTFPs, and particular products of interest and their economic viability. From there I was able to look at other procedural policies and use that as a framework for the policy I would be writing. In addition to writing policy, I also worked on a project which will provide procedures for information/decision sharing with First Nations regarding any impactful practices in forestry that will be taking place on their traditional territory. Lastly, I have been able to write a paper for the Forests for Tomorrow program which consolidated the known data acquired from teabag fertilizers and discussed their potential viability on drought prone sites. Despite most of my time being allocated towards writing and research, I was also fortunate to travel to Kamloops and Merritt to go to a woodlot training and present on what I was working on so far regarding NTFPs.
