March 5, 2004 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia will be hosting a conference in May on key issues in sustainable management for resource communities, and how to balance economic development needs with environmental protection.

The BC Ministry of Water, Land, and Air Protection is the major sponsor of the conference. Municipalities, First Nations, the provincial government, the McGregor Model Forest, and UNBC are all involved in planning the conference, which will draw speakers and delegates from across Canada and the US to share experiences and best practices. The Managing for Tomorrow: Resource Communities and the Environment conference will take place at UNBC’s Prince George campus from May 6-8.

“It’s very appropriate for UNBC to serve as the venue for this conference,” says UNBC President Charles Jago. “The issues of northern and resource-based communities are central to UNBC’s mandate, and environmental management is a key element in charting a course for the future.”

“Often, when we discuss issues such as climate change, air & water quality, and biodiversity, we perceive them to be in conflict with forest harvesting, oil and gas exploration, and mining, but resolving conflicts and achieving balance is essential for the development of many BC communities, especially those in the North,” says UNBC Political Science professor Gary Wilson, one of the conference organizers.

Key aims of the conference include fostering industry and community leadership and highlighting successful decision-making processes and environmental management tools. Keynote speakers will include William Rees (UBC), Michael Kinsley (Rocky Mountain Institute, Colorado), Sarah Michaels (University of Waterloo), and Martin Goebel (Sustainable Northwest, Oregon). The speakers will bring perspectives and successes from different regions and interests, while panel discussions and workshops are designed to promote dialogue between all participants.

Registration and travel subsidies will be available for small local governments, First Nations organizations, and community reps to ensure broad representation. There will also be opportunities for poster presentations and displays. For more information, and to register, visit www.res.unbc.ca/managingfortomorrow.