ABSTRACT
This chapter describes several forest-based towns in British Columbia. It argues that towns based on resource extraction and a variable market for their product is economically weak. The chapter presents local residents as a solution greater community participation in resource decision-making and management of forest industries. A basic characteristic of single industry towns, including the forest-industry-based towns, is their dependence on the labor force requirements of a specific company. The forest industry, like other resource industries, has a history of "booms" and "busts." Its products have fluctuating demand on world markets. Resource-use planning is clearly an essential condition for stable communities in the forest industry. But resource dependence is perhaps a more serious problem, especially in view of changes occurring in world markets. In Terrace and nearby communities in the Northwest, and in another forestry region of the Southeast, groups have formed over the past decade to protect their environment and their livelihoods.
