The Working Forest is focused on the problems facing the silviculture industry.Private sector experts from across the province representing the tree nurseries, the silviculture contractors, and suppliers provide their insight into the issues facing the industry and the potential solutions.
Good news comes from New Brunswick, where the Federal government recently announced an additional $7 million dollars for a silviculture initiative that ‘will have immediate impact in the 2009 growing season, supporting such activities as tree planting, thinning and site preparation.’ New Brunswick Natural Resources department also increased their forestry budget by 25% and private land forestry has seen an increase in silviculture investments.
Compare that response to the response of the Ontario government: a massive government stimulus program with many millions of dollars earmarked to save the Ontario car industry who didn’t know any better than to keep making cars even when they could not selling any.
The Manitoba government states silviculture rests with the private forest sector and as a consequence says that opportunities are limited for silviculture workers until 2013.
In British Columbia, the media has questioned the Federal government’s positive response to the auto sector (86,000 jobs) compared with its hands-off response to the forest sector (200,000 + jobs)
National voices of Canada’s silviculture industry express their concern in this issue.
Mike Wood of PRT talks about how the decline in harvesting has drastically impacted his industry."The government has to get the forest working again; there is no other way to properly fund silviculture and keep our forests healthy and productive. Government needs to create the conditions to ensure that the forest is being used fully," Wood said.
Don Willis of Jiffy Products warns that the expertise and infrastructure in the silviculture industry built up over the last several decades is in danger of being lost. "These are experienced professionals and if we lose them, it hits the market significantly in the long term. Once you lose them you don’t get them back."
Paul O’Neill of Beaver Plastics says that governments need to give forestry the same attention it gives to other vital sectors and recognize its importance to the country.
John Pineau, Executive Director. Canadian Institute of Forestry calls for Federal and Provincial government investment."Tree planting has the immediate benefits of providing employment across the country, particularly in small isolated communities, and stimulating local economies. We have the necessary infrastructure to initiate effective and efficient planting programs at once." Pineau says.
Retired Abitibi Forester Mac Squires recalls how investment in silviculture in the 1980s is showing excellent results today due to the commitment of private tree nurseries and the forest industry.
Dave Bradley of Outland Reforestation says, "Everyone is thinking how we can adequately renew an area with minimum dollars. Planting is the treatment of choice but no one can afford it, so there are a lot of other approaches being used to renew which are removing the number of trees from the annual plant."
The forest industry is facing its most difficult economic times in memory.These silviculture experts all agree that if ever there was a time when governments needed to act to protect previous investments and ensure that the forest sector can remain as Canada’s most important wealth generator - it is now! ◊