Preparing Plan B: A Guidebook for Forest Industry-Reliant Communities Facing Economic Transition

Framed by the key principles of multi-stakeholder approaches and a commitment to shared stewardship of resources, Preparing Plan B is the result of collaborative efforts between forest industry leaders, community representatives, and technical advisors. It offers practical insights and actionable strategies to help communities recognize signals of potential corporate disruptions, evaluate their readiness for change, and proactively work towards shaping a resilient and desirable future.

This guidebook focuses on three areas:

Anticipating Change: Equipping communities with the tools to identify early signals of disruptive corporate shifts and help navigate the challenges posed by economic transitions.

Strategic Action: Highlighting long-term actions to engage leadership and community networks, while also offering practical steps for forest-reliant communities to take in the face of impending closures or restructuring.

Actualizing Success: Flipping the conventional narrative of community deficit into highlighting positive assets and capacity that can steer a community towards success. This encourages communities to create their own prioritized definition of success based on their unique perspectives and needs.