CANADA (News release) -- Nanwakolas Council and Western Forest Products Inc. announce the completion of a Letter of Understanding (LOU) to develop a Joint Planning and Reconciliation Protocol Agreement. Under this comprehensive agreement, the parties will work towards co-developing an Integrated Resource Management Plan (IMRP) and mutually beneficial business solutions in support of economic reconciliation.

Through the IRMP process, the parties intend to work closely together to jointly develop a collaborative approach to sustainable forest management in the traditional territories of the member First Nations on central Vancouver Island.

Based on the identification of common and shared interests, the parties will explore options for long-term business partnerships that continue to support local communities and advance BC-based sawmilling and value-added manufacturing. Through the protocol agreement, the parties may propose joint solutions to the BC government to advance reconciliation with Indigenous communities while advancing BC's leadership in the sustainable management of forests.

The Nanwakolas Council and Western will consider relevant information and work together to include the values of Indigenous communities, employing leading experts to design and implement new approaches to old forest management considering all 14 recommendations of the BC Old Forest Review - inclusive of a joint and balanced approach to old forest deferrals.

Western is an integrated forest products company building a margin-focused log and lumber business to compete successfully in global softwood markets.