News and Views - Summer 2020 Newsletter
MOSAIC FOREST MANAGEMENT’S SEMI-ANNUAL NEWS UPDATE
Jeffery Zweig – President and CEO
This news update provides a summary of Mosaic’s activities for the first half of 2020 – a period marked by the unprecedented economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the significant challenges impacting the BC Coastal forest sector.
Throughout this time, our team has remained focused on creating conditions that support a restart of our operations - and on June 24, Mosaic announced we would be resuming operations. We are very pleased to be returning our 2,000-strong contractor base to work in our forests and focused on doing so safely.
In May, we announced a landmark tentative agreement with the United Steelworkers – an agreement characterized by a mutual commitment to work together to build a strong BC Coastal forest sector, one that provides increased job certainty to union members and the flexibility needed to succeed in a competitive international marketplace.
And while COVID-related adaptations and difficult economic conditions have challenged the team at Mosaic, we have continued to focus on our fundamental commitments to sustainable forest management and community giving. Mosaic and the Huu-ay-aht First Nations signed a collaboration agreement to advance reconciliation and sustainability. We continued to give back to our communities by supporting coastal food banks, donating firewood to frontline healthcare workers and matching proceeds from our firewood permit sales to support youth in sport. And we’ve expanded public access to our private managed forest lands, working hard to support increased demand as parks closed in response to COVID-19 and signing new access agreements, including with the Province to support ongoing fish stocking programs that benefit anglers.
I invite you to read about our sustainability achievements through our first year of operation as Mosaic Forest Management in our newly-released sustainability progress report, available here. The report documents progress on safety, environmental leadership, Indigenous relationships, community partnerships and our performance as an employer, and highlights some key projects and initiatives in 2019.
I want to thank our employees and partners for their commitment to Mosaic, and for their continued support as we work to resume full operations and advance efforts to build a viable, competitive Coastal forest sector.
- Jeff
2019 SUSTAINABILITY PROGRESS REPORT
Mosaic's newly-released 2019 Sustainability Progress Report provides details on our sustainability achievements in what was our first year as a new organization. In affiliating the business operations of TimberWest and Island Timberlands as Mosaic Forest Management, we brought together two companies with long, proud histories, and united teams of professionals together into one culture with a shared vision and strategy. One of the key commitments of affiliation was to share best practices and align our planning and operations to improve social, economic and environmental outcomes. This report demonstrates our significant progress on that commitment. Download the 2019 Sustainability Report
MOSAIC HARVEST PLANNING IN COMPLIANCE
The Forest Practices Board released the results of a detailed investigation of Mosaic harvest planning and engagement practices on TimberWest’s Tree Farm License 47. The report concludes that TimberWest’s practices complied with legislation and plans, progressed in a precautionary manner with respect to old forest and listed plant communities, and demonstrated leadership in development of a Forest Stewardship Plan. It also found that our staff responded quickly to stakeholder concerns and relied on experts to inform planning. Learn more
HUU-AY-AHT FIRST NATION AND MOSAIC SIGN MOU
On May 19, 2020, the Huu-ay-aht First Nation and Mosaic announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which affirms their commitment to reconciliation, sustainability and adherence to Huu-ay-aht values on it traditional territory. Learn more
NEW AGREEMENT SUPPORTS RECREATIONAL FISHING ON PRIVATE FOREST LAND
Mosaic and the Province of BC, through the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, have entered into an agreement to facilitate lake stocking within Mosaic-managed private forest lands in 2020. The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, a non-profit organization that works alongside government’s fisheries management agencies, will conduct the stocking. Learn more
Mark your calendars for these upcoming industry events:
National Forest Week
September 20-26, 2020 throughout BC.
www.bcnfw.ca18th Annual BC Natural Resources Forum
January 26, 2021 in Prince George.www.bcnaturalresourcesforum.comABCFP 2021
February 3-5, 2021 in Vancouver.
www.abcfp.ca/web/ABCFPConferenceSustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) Annual Conference
Postponed to May 12-14, 2021 in Vancouver.
www.sficonference.org
MOSAIC LAUNCHES 2020 CAMPSITE PHOTO CONTEST
Photographers of all levels are invited to submit their favourite images of BC’s wild West Coast to Mosaic's 2020 Campsite Photo Contest for a chance to win one of three 14-day camping passes valid at any Mosaic campsite. Two of the winners will be chosen by a panel of Mosaic staff, and the third winner will be selected this year through a new category of the People’s Choice Award! Learn more
MOSAIC SUPPORTS COASTAL FOOD BANKS
In April, Mosaic announced support for 21 food banks across Coastal BC, providing donations totaling $15,000 to food banks on Haida Gwaii, the Sunshine Coast and across Vancouver Island. Mosaic employees were important supporters of the gift, giving up to $50 each, matched by Mosaic, to the food bank in their community. Learn more
SEEDLING DONATION SUPPORTS HOME-BASED ECOLOGY PROGRAMMING
Mosaic donated 1,000 Douglas-fir seedlings to the Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Region's Youth Program, a program designed to teach students the importance of environmental, social, cultural, and economic sustainability on a local scale. Learn more
MOSAIC THANKS FRONTLINE WORKERS WITH FIREWOOD
Mosaic’s Northwest Bay Crew worked together to cut and split more than 60 cords of firewood and made it available for free to frontline healthcare workers to show appreciation for their work through the COVID-19 crisis. Mosaic is grateful to all frontline employees who continue to work to keep our communities safe and healthy, and thanks all those who participated in this firewood donation program. Learn more
MOSAIC FIREWOOD SALES SUPPORT KIDSPORT
As part of its commitment to supporting the communities where we operate, Mosaic made a donation of $20,000 to KidSport BC, a non-profit organization supporting youth sports. The funds support families across Vancouver Island and in coastal communities by helping kids stay active and healthy through participation in sport. Matching funds were collected by Mosaic through the sale of firewood cutting permits during the 2019/2020 season. Learn more
MOSAIC OPENS GATES ON CANADA DAY
Mosaic expanded its regular schedule of weekend access opportunities by opening its gates to the public on Canada Day this year. The response was very positive, with many visitors enjoying the opportunity to hike, bike and explore Mosaic forest lands on the national holiday.
MOSAIC CAMPSITES ARE OPEN FOR THE SEASON!
Mosaic campsites are now officially open. We look forward to welcoming BC residents to our 12 campsites across Vancouver Island! Mosaic’s campsites are a key element of our company’s access program, and we are proud to offer camping opportunities for the general public on our private forest lands. Learn more