Community-based forest management planning in the Yukon: The difficulties of government transfer of responsibility and authority to community agencies

The responsibilities and challenges of two community-based organizations, the Alsek Renewable Resource Council (Alsek RRC) and the Champagne and Aishihik Traditional Territory Forest Management Planning Team (CATT Planning Team) involved in Yukon's first forest management plan are explored in this thesis. Finalization of comprehensive land claims and the subsequent formation of Renewable Resource Councils has created the framework for the involvement of community members who desire a meaningful role in forest management planning. Data for this project was collected primarily through interviews with community, forest industry, and government representatives. Yukon community members face many challenges as responsibility for forest management planning is devolved from the federal, territorial and First Nations governments to community agencies. Key challenges included a breakdown of trust between community and government partners, the CATT Planning Team's inability to resolve membership issues, limited involvement of Champagne and Aishihik First Nation members, inadequate policy support, and forestry staff with limited skills to implement co-management projects or serve as a community liaison. This thesis demonstrates that the federal government agency responsible for forest management is uncertain about what role Yukon RRCs have in, or how to incorporate, decisions made by the community-based group into forest management plans. Experience of the Alsek RRC and the CATT Planning Team illustrates that if community-based forest management planning is to succeed number of changes are required in how government and communities interact; the foremost being a strengthening of trust between government and community partners.