The Professional in Professional Reliance - bcwf.net AGM/2016 AGM Presentations/Mike_Larock... · The Professional in Professional Reliance 60th BCWF AGM and Conference April 22,

The Professional in Professional Reliance

60th BCWF AGM and Conference

April 22, 2016

Mike Larock, RPF Director of Professional Practice and Forest Stewardship

1. Who is the Forest Professional 2. Role of Forest Professional in

forest resource management 3. Professional Reliance

4. Our common goal

Plan to Discuss

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Who is a Forest Professional? • specialized knowledge and experience

• provide advise, direction,

judgement on the

management of forests,

forest lands, forest resources

• Foresters Act and Bylaws

Association of BC Forest Professionals

• Regulator of the forestry profession in BC since 1947. • Right to title and right to practice legislation. • ABCFP membership is 5400+ (largest in Canada.) • Forest professionals work in all areas of natural

resource management including oil and gas, forestry, mining, hydro, IPPs, parks and recreation.

• Members hold positions from technical forestry practice through senior management.

• Forest professionals are integral to the management of BC natural resources (55 million hectares of forest.)

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Exclusive Practice

Self-Regulation

Competent Practice

Public Interest

The Public Trust

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Role of the Forest Professional Value in Professional Service – Keeper of Forests • Understanding of complex issues and

environments • Application of science

– Interveners – Conservators

• What we know • What we apply • What context

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What do you want from your forests?

“forestry is …the art of producing from the forest whatever it can yield for the service of man."

”the sustainable management of forests to provide the greatest good, for the greatest number, in the long run.” (Gifford Pinchot)

Example: Salvage 1 million m3 of Norway spruce sawlogs stored 4 years. Byholma, Sweden. http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/pubwarehouse/pdfs/28632.pdf

Social License = authority + credibility + trust

A Growing List of Expectations

Both ends of the gap I am expected to bridge

are changing rapidly: the body of knowledge

that I must use, and the expectations of the

society that I must serve. (Schon, 1983)

• The forest professional does not decide the forest land use

• The forest professional does affect the outcomes

The Forest Professional • Obligations FRPA • Revenue obligations • Access obligations • Employment

responsibilities • Other resource users • Team builder

(participant)

• Science knowledge • Apply science in

Operations • Independence • Professional judgement • Perspective (time and

size) • Innovation

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“the practice of accepting and relying upon the decisions and advice of professionals who accept responsibility and can be held accountable for the decisions they make and the advice they give.” Definition of Professional Reliance.

Professional Reliance

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Professional Reliance

PR = Rely on judgement x Accountable Judgement = direction, advice, decisions (knowledge, training, experience) Accountable = answerable beyond employment (member of regulated profession)

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Professional Reliance

PR = Rely on judgement x Accountable

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Professional Reliance affected by: • Professionals are not assigned to the task • Judgement is constrained in the options • Social decisions and choices are already made • Professionals lack knowledge and understanding • Professionals do not act in the public interest

Professional Reliance

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Work Safe BC – Occupational Health and Safety Heritage Conservation Act Finance and Administration Water Sustainability Act

You Don’t Hold Professionals Accountable

Comparison Report - Complaints/Investigations/Discipline

Membership Complaints Discipline #/1000 #/1000

Engineers 23,025 1.2 0.3

Pharmacists 4,150 33 0.4

Doctors 10,377 96 0.8

Lawyers 10,987 108 13.8

Foresters 5,507 1.6 0.2

Based on 3 year average 2006/2007 to 2008/2009

Our Common Goal

We care about forests, ecosystems and forest resources. We practice good forest stewardship. We advocate for wise use and conservation of forest resources.

There is one Land

Change (environment, ownership, social values)

How does this compel us to advise and manage?

What is the right balance in our judgment & decisions?

Opportunities

Establish a stronger relationship

Help us advise forest professionals regarding interests of BCWF

Lets advance understanding and knowledge

Collectively advocate for good forest

stewardship

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Thank-you

Questions or Conversation?

Contact Mike Larock RPF 604-331-2324

[email protected] or

Check us out www.abcfp.ca