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(> just a) NEW PAPER ALERT. Amidst massive conflict over dwindling old growth forests in BC, the Kitasoo/Xai-xais Nation (KX) uses their own knowledge & science to guide their forestry decisions. A focus on Culturally Modified Trees (CMTs) 1/
Instead of focusing planning solely on wildlife (that have varying levels of cultural salience), KX Stewardship looked to Culturally Modified Trees (CMTs).
The work of KX Ancestors guide the KX today. 2/
The work of KX Ancestors guide the KX today. 2/
Culturally Modified Trees (CMTs), typically of (western red) cedar, are living trees showing evidence of past use. Up to many hundreds of years old. Uses include (present tense!)….just about everything…from material to spiritual value 3/
The team surveyed 110 km, newly documenting 100s of CMTs to combine with an existing georeferenced database. Training, youth engagement, hard work & adventure 4/
Using associations between CMT presence & environmental/cultural variables, the team built a model to predict CMT ‘hotspots’ throughout KX’s economic exclusive area. A 12 km2 portion below 5/
Vern Brown (GIS specialist [& more] of KX Stewardship - pictured) created a variable centred on canoe access. This cultural insight led to what was among top 2 most important variables in model that predicted CMT locations 6/
![Vern Brown (GIS specialist [& more] of KX Stewardship - pictured) created a variable centred on canoe access. This cultural insight led to what was among top 2 most important variables in model that predicted CMT locations 6/](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EyTIyi9UYAEm5Ty.jpg "Vern Brown (GIS specialist [& more] of KX Stewardship - pictured) created a variable centred on canoe access. This cultural insight led to what was among top 2 most important variables in model that predicted CMT locations 6/")
CMT hotspots are 50% more frequent in the Timber Harvest Land Base, the area in which logging is most likely to occur. Applied research to inform KX decision-making 7/
The CMT hotspot ‘layer’ in GIS was operationalized many months ago, and guides forestry decisions by the KX and for the KX 8/
Team included Vern Brown, @bryderoy (photos too), @CN_Service, @IainMcKechnie, @SURREAL_Lab, @Leclerc_M_ of KX Stewardship Authority, @uvic & @Raincoast 9/
#OpenAcess paper in @FACETSJournal
Let us know what you think!
https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/full/10.1139/facets-2020-0047 10/10
Let us know what you think!
https://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/full/10.1139/facets-2020-0047 10/10
