The Quw’utsun Nation and the Municipality of North Cowichan are moving forward on a co-management framework for the Municipal Forest Reserve.
The initiative is being developed with the help of Your Wayfinders Management Solutions, a project management consulting firm.
The goal is to create a partnership in key areas like shared decision-making, economic opportunities, Indigenous forest practices, recreation, and stewardship of culturally sensitive areas.
A final draft plan is expected by early 2026.
In the meantime, North Cowichan has paused new decisions on the forest reserve, but essential activities like FireSmart work and invasive species control will continue.
North Cowichan had a technical review and public engagement done for the forest reserve between 2020 and 2023, and a preferred forest management scenario favouring ecological and sustainable values was presented to council.
In 2024, North Cowichan and the Quw’utsun Nation committed to working on co-management of the 5,000 hectare Municipal Forest Reserve, which lies within the traditional territory of the Quw’utsun Nation.
