An Analysis of Ontario Forest Governance Systems and their Ability to Effectively Include Indigenous People

Abstract

In the past few decades, sustainability has taken the forefront in discussions in Canada broadly, and specifically in the Canadian forest industry. There has been much focus on economic and environmental sustainability, but social sustainability in forest management has alluded much attention. This paper focuses on social sustainability in terms of social justice and reconciliation with Indigenous people in Ontario. This paper analyses and assesses Ontario forest governance systems and their ability to effectively include Indigenous people. The analysis uses the concepts from Sustainable Development, sustainable forest management, and United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a lens to assess Ontario forest governance.