Graduate Environmental Program

Public Lecture by: Dr Stephen Wyatt

3:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Turner Theatre, Botany Building (bldg 122), Parkville

Canada’s Aboriginal peoples have made significant inroads into forestry and forest management over the last 30 years – in employment, as land managers, through recognition of rights, in business and with respect for traditional knowledge and values. However, these gains have often necessitated hard-fought battles, progress has been uneven, numerous difficulties remain and the results are not always what was expected. This presentation will review the various paths that Aboriginal participation in forestry takes in Canada, along with the diversity of policy instruments that support and enable (or hinder) these. We will also consider several alternative visions of what an Aboriginal role in forestry could be. Canada should not be considered as a model for Australia. However, Canadian Aboriginal experiences do underscore the importance of respecting rights, sharing economic benefits, recognising traditional values and systems, changing forest management and building capacity if Aboriginal peoples are to gain a greater place in forestry and resource management.

Enquiries:
Rebecca Ford
0400 080 580
fordr@ unimelb.edu.au
http://www.landfood.unimelb.edu.au/info/seminars/