Social sustainability, stewardship and survival

Dr. Tom Beckley, Professor, Faculty of Forestry, University of New Brunswick

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Please click here to view/download a PDF version of the presentation (.pdf 1.2MB); also
available from our Publications page, under "Presentations".

Social sustainability is inextricably related to economic and ecological sustainability. While it is important to draw the distinctions, it is perhaps more important to make the connections. The most challenging aspects of social sustainability are those which are difficult to quantify. They have more to do with process, and less to do with tangible or predictable outcomes. This discussion will outline some intangible, difficult to measure aspects of social sustainability that may contribute to “success” at the household, community or provincial level. British Columbia’s rural and resource dependent communities are facing a multitude of challenges. We will gaze backward, to draw lessons from history, and forward, to speculate about future developments, and discuss strategies for resilience in the face of uncertainty.A lively discussion will follow.

Dr. Tom Beckley is Professor in the Faculty of Forestry at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton. His main research areas are community forestry, public involvement in forest management, forest-dependent communities, and aboriginal forestry issues. Dr. Beckley’s areas of expertise include social values in forest management, private woodlot management, and non-timber forest products.