The Federal and Provincial governments must recognize that they need to directly invest more in Canada’s forests says one of the country’s leading forest conservation associations, the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF).
In a recent presentation to the standing Senate Committee for Forestry and Agriculture, CIF Executive Director, John Pineau, reinforced the need for a National response to support the provincial governments’ responsibilities for managing Crown forest lands.
"Forests must continue to play a major role in Canada’s future economic, social and environmental solutions. The majority (90%) of Canada’s forests are publically owned. Investments in these resources must be considered as a long term environmental investment, with corollary social and economic benefits," said Pineau.
The different levels of government in Canada want and need to help our very troubled forest sector, and I believe our input will better guide new and existing federal programs and initiatives with balanced, science-based options."
A forest professional with almost 30 years experience in the Sector, Pineau has been the Executive Director of CIF for 3 years. Prior to that, he was part of the Forestry Research Partnership at the Canadian Ecology Centre in Mattawa, Ontario. With his career spanning forest industry, government, consulting and research and environmental issues Pineau is well qualified to speak to the threats facing and opportunities for Canada’s forests.
"According to Canada’s National Forest Database, says Pineau, the annual rate of ‘assisted’ regeneration over the past 10 years as a percent of area harvested was less than 50%. In other words, over half of the area harvested each year (some 50,000 hectares), is left to regenerate naturally."
Pineau says that this natural regeneration is satisfactory when the area regenerates to the optimum amount of the desired tree species. When this is inadequate, he says, well-structured tree planting programs need to be carried out.
"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. We highly recommend the development of sound plans for areas where natural regeneration is required, and the development of a national seed crop forecasting system to assist in the timing of site preparation and tending operations," Pineau said.
The CIF is calling for Federal and Provincial government investment to:
- To ensure a sustainable supply of material for conventional forest products, future bio-industry opportunities, wildlife habitat and maintenance of forest carbon, among other uses
- To provide Canadians with a clear and understandable description of changes to forest composition and structure so that citizens are able to better understand the public policy choices available to them to ensure the important ecological functions of our forests are protected for the long term, and
- To show that Canada can play a major role in many countries beset by poverty and environmental degradation, some of the drivers of human suffering, through reinstating forestry into its global aid program.
Pineau said that Canada is one of the few countries in the world with large publicly owned forests. Many of these forests are managed by private companies for timber and other forest products under standards set by provincial and territorial governments.
Over the past two decades federal, provincial and territorial governments have agreed to ensure that the use of our public forests is sustainable over the long term. By committing to Canada’s National Forest Strategy, these governments declared their intention to ensure that all ecological processes that maintain forest health continue indefinitely. One opportunity to meet this commitment is by prompt and adequate regeneration of tree species in areas depleted by timber harvesting.
"I remain optimistic with respect to the future of Canada’s forest sector," said Pineau. "There is some very good work being carried-out across Canada to innovate, diversify, reinvest and create opportunities through the sustainable use of our forests. We have to recognize, and be ready and willing to take advantage of these new opportunities as they arise."
(The Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF/IFC) is one of Canada’s oldest and most respected forest conservation organizations. CIF/IFC members work in government, industry, and academia, and include foresters, technicians, biologists, ecologists, educators, economists, scientists, and many other individuals with an interest and passion for our forests and the complex ecosystems that they support. CIF-IFC members are dedicated to sound forest stewardship and sustainability across Canada and throughout the world. The Institute is entering its 101st year in 2009. The Institute’s national office is based at the Canadian Ecology Centre near Mattawa Ontario.
A copy of the Canadian Institute of Forestry’s written statement can be found on its website: www.cif-ifc.org/site/news_releases). In addition, Mr. Pineau’s verbal testimony was recently broadcast on the Parliamentary Television Channel.)◊