BC Forest Bioeconomy Development and
B.C. Forest Bioeconomy Development and Opportunities for Indigenous Communities
Introduction The Innovation, Bioeconomy and Indigenous Opportunities (iBIO) Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNR) is interested in developing a program that supports the direct benefit of bioeconomy innovation with Indigenous peoples. Over the course of the past two years iBIO has supported the development of a Forest Bioeconomy Framework for Canada via a coordinated effort with the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM) at the national level as well as an aligned provincial level strategy to help guide innovation and the bioeconomy in British Columbia (B.C.). Both of these strategies establish or reconfirm a mandate to develop and expand partnerships with First Nations communities and Indigenous peoples more broadly to identify and develop opportunities in the bioeconomy.
Forest Bioeconomy Background The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) has made a long-term commitment to developing technologies and innovations to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the forest sector in B.C. The purpose for driving clean technology development and innovation is to support new opportunities in developing and commercializing next generation forest bioproducts that can help diversify the forest sector and take advantage of opportunities in the emerging global bioeconomy. Research, development and innovation over the past decade has indicated a vast array of opportunities to develop sustainable forest based bioproducts that could potentially provide greater environmental and socio-economic benefits compared to conventional products across many existing manufacturing sectors. Due to the innovative nature of bioeconomy projects, reliance on existing technologies, project reviews, timeframes, and levels of engagement or consultation needs to be revaluated to better understand the systemic impacts. FLNR is interested in exploring these new opportunities and bioeconomy development pathways in collaboration and partnership with interested Indigenous communities and/ or organizations. Please refer to contact information at the end of this document if this is of interest.
Potential Opportunities for Indigenous Communities While some of the opportunities in a bioeconomy require further exploration, there are other innovative opportunities available to Indigenous communities that could be pursued in the near term. The iBIO Branch is looking for ways to work with Indigenous communities and organizations on the development of these types of opportunities that support the direct benefit of bioeconomy innovation with Indigenous peoples. Potential Example: Wood Innovation Initiative 1
One of the government’s priorities is to expand the use of innovative wood products and ensure public projects prioritize the use of B.C. wood. Currently the government is working on a Wood Innovation initiative that looks to review building codes to allow the use of more wood, improve public procurement of B.C. based wood products and potentially develop pilot projects that can showcase new wood innovations and design. The goal of this initiative is to build a wood culture in B.C., which includes First Nations using technologies and innovative engineered and composite wood products. This work is focused on three areas: 1. Commercialization, Demonstration, and Prioritizing Wood In Public Projects (e.g. looking at governments procurement practices for capital projects) 2. Addressing Building Code and Regulatory impediments to expanded use of engineered wood products 3. Education and Advancing Awareness within BCs construction and building design community1
Figure 1: UVIC First Nation house 1
iBIO Branch is interested in exploring the opportunity to develop a pilot program that could supports the design and construction of an innovative wood building(s) for a First Nations community(s). The intent behind this opportunity is to develop a project(s) or program independent of government-to-government agreement processes and distinct from any consultation and accommodation framework. The aim is to enhance partnerships and collaboration between government and Indigenous communities while providing direct community benefits. The scope and scale of this type of program still needs to be defined and no budget has been secured to date. At this stage iBIO is seeking to engage with communities on this opportunity to gage interest and seek input as to how such a program could be planned, administered and implemented. The aim would be to create a collaborative program that can support Indigenous communities while setting the stage for further collaboration on broader bioeconomy opportunities. One idea has been to design and build a Youth Centre in one to three First Nation communities in the province and once successfully demonstrated, it could potentially be scaled to other communities. The purpose of this program is to strengthen existing First Nations-government relationships by improving community infrastructure, increase exposure to high valued composite and engineered wood products in First Nations construction companies, reduce carbon footprint in First Nation communities through embodying carbon in wood materials in buildings, and provide opportunities to source domestic wood products from local First Nation businesses. This potential program coincides with many provincial, federal, and First Nation priorities and initiatives in clean-tech innovation, and forest bioeconomy framework. The outcomes of this program could also support the expansion of advanced innovative wood products in the B.C. wood sector and can provide 1
See: Wood First Act section - https://www.uvic.ca/news/topics/2011+gold-for-uvic-s-first-peoples-house+mediarelease
2
socioeconomic benefits to First Nation communities while supporting environmentally sustainable use of forest resources. Project Elements still to be determined but requiring input: • • • • •
How would this type of program be administered (i.e. what kind of application or proposal format would work best) How would we ensure community support? How could funding to support innovative wood design be leveraged with other programs or projects to maximize the benefit for Indigenous communities? What type of partnerships could be created with Indigenous businesses to facilitate planning, design and implementation/ construction? What other ideas are there for wood innovation and bioeconomy?
For more information on Bioeconomy please contact: James Sandland – Director iBIO Branch [email protected] Stefan Tack – Manager Indigenous Opportunities [email protected]
3
Appendix A: Overview of Bioeconomy and Bioproducts Work in the province on the concept of a bioeconomy has been underway for just over a decade, with early efforts focused on research to better understand the physical and chemical properties of cellulosic biomass from trees. Through this research and better understanding of cellulosic biomass properties, we have a general understanding of the potential market opportunities in a forest bioeconomy. The term forest bioproduct is a general term used to describe commercial products made with forest biomass (e.g. cellulose and lignin from trees). Figure 1 summarizes some of the categories of both conventional and advanced bioproducts which are in varying stages of commercialization and product development. There are likely additional bioeconomy opportunities that could be explored with Indigenous communities (see Sustainability section). A bioeconomy also includes new advanced bioproducts such as biofuels, bioenergy, biochemical, and other bio-based materials. Conventional, but innovative wood products such as cross, laminated timber panels, glulam beams and other engineered wood products, are also part of a forest bioeconomy
Figure 2: Overview of Forest Bioproducts made from wood biomass.
Sustainability The foundation of a forest bioeconomy is based on sustainably-managed forest ecosystems and resources. In today’s economy, many of the common household goods and everyday products we use are manufactured from fossil fuels, also known as petrochemicals. Examples include petrochemicals used to make plastics in toys and car parts, to polyesters in clothing and emulsifiers in cosmetics. Without sustainability as a foundational component of the forest bioeconomy, the significant environmental, social and economic benefits offered via sustainable bioproducts compared to conventional petrochemical based products will not be realized. 4
Introduction The Innovation, Bioeconomy and Indigenous Opportunities (iBIO) Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNR) is interested in developing a program that supports the direct benefit of bioeconomy innovation with Indigenous peoples. Over the course of the past two years iBIO has supported the development of a Forest Bioeconomy Framework for Canada via a coordinated effort with the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM) at the national level as well as an aligned provincial level strategy to help guide innovation and the bioeconomy in British Columbia (B.C.). Both of these strategies establish or reconfirm a mandate to develop and expand partnerships with First Nations communities and Indigenous peoples more broadly to identify and develop opportunities in the bioeconomy.
Forest Bioeconomy Background The Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) has made a long-term commitment to developing technologies and innovations to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the forest sector in B.C. The purpose for driving clean technology development and innovation is to support new opportunities in developing and commercializing next generation forest bioproducts that can help diversify the forest sector and take advantage of opportunities in the emerging global bioeconomy. Research, development and innovation over the past decade has indicated a vast array of opportunities to develop sustainable forest based bioproducts that could potentially provide greater environmental and socio-economic benefits compared to conventional products across many existing manufacturing sectors. Due to the innovative nature of bioeconomy projects, reliance on existing technologies, project reviews, timeframes, and levels of engagement or consultation needs to be revaluated to better understand the systemic impacts. FLNR is interested in exploring these new opportunities and bioeconomy development pathways in collaboration and partnership with interested Indigenous communities and/ or organizations. Please refer to contact information at the end of this document if this is of interest.
Potential Opportunities for Indigenous Communities While some of the opportunities in a bioeconomy require further exploration, there are other innovative opportunities available to Indigenous communities that could be pursued in the near term. The iBIO Branch is looking for ways to work with Indigenous communities and organizations on the development of these types of opportunities that support the direct benefit of bioeconomy innovation with Indigenous peoples. Potential Example: Wood Innovation Initiative 1
One of the government’s priorities is to expand the use of innovative wood products and ensure public projects prioritize the use of B.C. wood. Currently the government is working on a Wood Innovation initiative that looks to review building codes to allow the use of more wood, improve public procurement of B.C. based wood products and potentially develop pilot projects that can showcase new wood innovations and design. The goal of this initiative is to build a wood culture in B.C., which includes First Nations using technologies and innovative engineered and composite wood products. This work is focused on three areas: 1. Commercialization, Demonstration, and Prioritizing Wood In Public Projects (e.g. looking at governments procurement practices for capital projects) 2. Addressing Building Code and Regulatory impediments to expanded use of engineered wood products 3. Education and Advancing Awareness within BCs construction and building design community1
Figure 1: UVIC First Nation house 1
iBIO Branch is interested in exploring the opportunity to develop a pilot program that could supports the design and construction of an innovative wood building(s) for a First Nations community(s). The intent behind this opportunity is to develop a project(s) or program independent of government-to-government agreement processes and distinct from any consultation and accommodation framework. The aim is to enhance partnerships and collaboration between government and Indigenous communities while providing direct community benefits. The scope and scale of this type of program still needs to be defined and no budget has been secured to date. At this stage iBIO is seeking to engage with communities on this opportunity to gage interest and seek input as to how such a program could be planned, administered and implemented. The aim would be to create a collaborative program that can support Indigenous communities while setting the stage for further collaboration on broader bioeconomy opportunities. One idea has been to design and build a Youth Centre in one to three First Nation communities in the province and once successfully demonstrated, it could potentially be scaled to other communities. The purpose of this program is to strengthen existing First Nations-government relationships by improving community infrastructure, increase exposure to high valued composite and engineered wood products in First Nations construction companies, reduce carbon footprint in First Nation communities through embodying carbon in wood materials in buildings, and provide opportunities to source domestic wood products from local First Nation businesses. This potential program coincides with many provincial, federal, and First Nation priorities and initiatives in clean-tech innovation, and forest bioeconomy framework. The outcomes of this program could also support the expansion of advanced innovative wood products in the B.C. wood sector and can provide 1
See: Wood First Act section - https://www.uvic.ca/news/topics/2011+gold-for-uvic-s-first-peoples-house+mediarelease
2
socioeconomic benefits to First Nation communities while supporting environmentally sustainable use of forest resources. Project Elements still to be determined but requiring input: • • • • •
How would this type of program be administered (i.e. what kind of application or proposal format would work best) How would we ensure community support? How could funding to support innovative wood design be leveraged with other programs or projects to maximize the benefit for Indigenous communities? What type of partnerships could be created with Indigenous businesses to facilitate planning, design and implementation/ construction? What other ideas are there for wood innovation and bioeconomy?
For more information on Bioeconomy please contact: James Sandland – Director iBIO Branch [email protected] Stefan Tack – Manager Indigenous Opportunities [email protected]
3
Appendix A: Overview of Bioeconomy and Bioproducts Work in the province on the concept of a bioeconomy has been underway for just over a decade, with early efforts focused on research to better understand the physical and chemical properties of cellulosic biomass from trees. Through this research and better understanding of cellulosic biomass properties, we have a general understanding of the potential market opportunities in a forest bioeconomy. The term forest bioproduct is a general term used to describe commercial products made with forest biomass (e.g. cellulose and lignin from trees). Figure 1 summarizes some of the categories of both conventional and advanced bioproducts which are in varying stages of commercialization and product development. There are likely additional bioeconomy opportunities that could be explored with Indigenous communities (see Sustainability section). A bioeconomy also includes new advanced bioproducts such as biofuels, bioenergy, biochemical, and other bio-based materials. Conventional, but innovative wood products such as cross, laminated timber panels, glulam beams and other engineered wood products, are also part of a forest bioeconomy
Figure 2: Overview of Forest Bioproducts made from wood biomass.
Sustainability The foundation of a forest bioeconomy is based on sustainably-managed forest ecosystems and resources. In today’s economy, many of the common household goods and everyday products we use are manufactured from fossil fuels, also known as petrochemicals. Examples include petrochemicals used to make plastics in toys and car parts, to polyesters in clothing and emulsifiers in cosmetics. Without sustainability as a foundational component of the forest bioeconomy, the significant environmental, social and economic benefits offered via sustainable bioproducts compared to conventional petrochemical based products will not be realized. 4
