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BC First Nations Forestry Council and Osoyoos Indian Band joins B.C. delegation to Japan

British Columbia’s Minister of Forests Bruce Ralston is leading a delegation from the province’s forestry sector on a mission to Japan, where they will highlight the innovative aspects of B.C. wood products.

Among the representatives, Dan Macmaster, head of forestry with the Osoyoos Indian Band (Nk’Mip Forestry), will play a significant role representing both the First Nations Forestry Council as a director and the Osoyoos Indian Band.

During the five-day mission from Sunday, Dec. 10, the delegation aims to showcase the exceptional quality of B.C.’s materials and their potential applications in Japan, ranging from low-carbon homes to mass-timber commercial buildings.

“Japan is a long-standing market for B.C. forest products with new opportunities for B.C.’s high-value lumber and manufactured wood products, such as mass timber,” Ralston said in a press release issued by the Ministry of Forests. “The demand for wood building material is growing, and the sustainability and innovation in B.C.’s forestry sector makes it globally recognized as one of the best options to choose from.

The diverse B.C. delegation, consisting of Ministry of Forests representatives, First Nations delegates, and forestry-sector representatives from various companies, both large and small, will collaborate in Japan. Their objectives include strengthening international relationships, expanding market opportunities, engaging with customers and partners, and promoting the utilization of B.C. wood products within Japanese businesses. For the past several years, Macmaster has played an important role in the forestry sector through his work with Vaagen Fibre Canada, West Boundary Community Forest and the Osoyoos Indian Band.

Earlier this year, Macmaster was recognized by Forest Professionals British Columbia as the professional forester of the year and was honoured with the prestigious Canadian forestry achievement award at the 2023 Canadian Institute of Forestry/Institut Forestier du Canada (CIF-IFC) national awards ceremony.

“I am very excited about this opportunity to travel with other forestry sector leaders and senior government officials to Japan,” said Macmaster. “I will be sharing presentations on what some of the key priorities are for BC First Nations in forestry, their traditional and innovative practices in good forest management, plus share how to best work in collaboration. I am honoured to be attending and look forward to not only sharing information with our hosts in Japan but also learning from them to take best practices and good ideas and see how we can make them work in our very diverse and unique forests here in British Columbia.”