With this history and the reality that there continues to be more and more players on the landscape, the CMFN finds itself in a place where it can apply the tools, lessons learned, and best practices, as well as build on its unique multi-stakeholder platform, to provide benefit to an even wider group of partners. By broadening the CMFN’s scope, the goal is to deliver programs that reflect responsible natural resource management at the landscape level. This will be undertaken by engaging and showing value of the Model Forest approach to new partners in a wide range of natural resource sectors, while maintaining well-established relationships with our current forest sector partners.
The CMFN will continue to work closely with communities, government, industry, and other stakeholders to achieve its program goals and objectives. A multi-stakeholder approach will assure that the needs of natural resource sectors are met and responsible resource decision-making is utilized, with a broad level of engagement. The overall process will work to build an integrated approach to landscape level planning and management. The ultimate goal is to foster an environment where forest and natural resource sector new best practices can be established and delivered. This provides an opportunity to better the communication between policy, science, and industry, in order to improve, test, and implement new and innovative practices, while also engaging practitioners and local interest groups.
With this approach, the CMFN anticipates a number of outcomes. First, the program will be planned, developed, and implemented in a way that engages a broad group of stakeholders and natural resource sectors. Secondly, with a multi-stakeholder approach, there will be improved communication and facilitation to help achieve their mutual goals and resolve disputes. Thirdly, communities will have increased engagement with and knowledge of local natural resource sectors, helping to support sustainable communities and work to collaboratively create social license between interest groups. This program will also create a space for integrated landscape management discussions, using the Model Forest principles and approach to achieve best practices and facilitate knowledge exchange between partners.
The CMFN is building on its past, while looking to the future with new opportunities. With emerging issues at the landscape level involving many sectors and stakeholders, it is looking to see how it can continue to work to not only address issues of the forest and its communities, but take the expertise, experience, and platform that has been built and provide a role in facilitating discussions and delivering programs to meet broader responsible resource management goals.
