First Nations Take Control of BC Forests

0:00It's March 22nd. Welcome in. This is Canada News today, where local news meets AI. I'm Cory with the story. Three first nations on British Columbia's West Coast, the Ahusat-Hasquiet and Telo-Qoyat have taken control of three new forestry areas in. Clay Aquat Sound, the UNESCO biosphere reserve that includes Tofino. This shift hands management rights from the forest company, Mammuk Natural Resources, to the nations aiming to protect old growth forests while creating jobs. The deal came after more than a decade of talks involving the nations, the provincial government and support from the charity Nature United, which has provided over $40 million in recent years. These areas hold cedar, spruce, hemlock, and some dug was fir, including spots of cultural importance and past logging damage. Leaders from the nations see this as a major win. Ahusat hereditary chief Tyson at Lail called it a step toward regaining resource control

1:01he promised his community 15 years ago. Hesquiet chief Mariah Charleston highlighted how it reopens roads for gathering medicines and rebuilding community ties. Now, the nations plan ecosystem-based forestry that avoids clear-cutting, boost biodiversity, stores carbon, restores salmon habitats, and explorers. Ecotourism. They'll develop strategies with experts to turn these goals into action and generate local economic value. With decades of cleanup ahead from old logging harms, the nations are rolling up their sleaze for restoration partnerships that could inspire similar deals across the province.