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Daily Gleaner | Readers'
Forum
As published on page A8 on December 1, 2003
Youth concerned for forests
Dear Editor:
The New Brunswick Forest Product Association
tries to suggest that only their members understand forestry in New
Brunswick.
Implying that young people, environmentalists and other members of
the general public don't know what they are talking about seriously
discredits the association and the members it represents.
This is obviously not the case, as demonstrated by the youth over
the past weeks as they hold teach-ins, demonstrations and
participate in the Select Committee Hearings on Wood Supply.
As the future of our province they have a lot at stake, and
thankfully they recognize this and are taking an active role to
ensure New Brunswick's Crown forests and our rich and diverse
Acadian landscape are not turned into plantations, but instead
maintain their natural diversity for future generations.
The Jaakko Poyry report has presented the first opportunity in over
30 years for the people of New Brunswick to discuss their ideas and
vision for Crown lands.
This is an unprecedented opportunity to voice opinions and be heard.
The association takes exception to using the word monoculture, which
implies a single species, when often after clear-cutting the
industry plants with multiple species (black spruce, white spruce,
red spruce and eastern white pine) in an effort to diversify
plantations and mimic natural conditions.
We are talking about mimicking natural conditions here; a plantation
will never behave like a natural condition providing the appropriate
habitat for wildlife and other forest species.
This is along the same vein as a clear-cut never mimics a forest
fire.
People should get out in the woods more often and see what is
happening on Crown land. There are some exceptional examples of
forest management in the province and some examples that would make
you shudder.
All is not well on Crown lands. It is obvious that the people of
this province have been educating themselves about the issues and
what is happening on the ground, and if the select committee
hearings are any indication they are not pleased with what they see.
Times & Transcript | Readers' Forum
As published on page D8 on November 25, 2003
All is not well in N.B. Crown forests
To The Editor:
The New Brunswick Forest Product Association tries to suggest
that only their members understand forestry in New Brunswick (Times
& Transcript, Nov. 21, 2003).
Implying that young people, environmentalists and other members
of the general public don’t know what they are talking about
seriously discredits the Forest Products Association and the members
it represents.
This is obviously not the case, as demonstrated by the youth over
the past weeks as they hold teach-ins, demonstrations and
participate in the Select Committee Hearings on Wood Supply. As the
future of our province they have a lot at stake, and thankfully they
recognize this and are taking an active role to ensure New Brunswick’s
Crown forests, our rich and diverse Acadian landscape is not turned
into plantations, but instead maintain their natural diversity for
future generations.
Every citizen of New Brunswick, environmentalists and students
included are entitled to their opinion, especially when it pertains
to a public resource, such as our Crown forests. The Jaakko Poyry
report has presented the first opportunity in over 30 years for the
people of New Brunswick to discuss their ideas and vision for Crown
lands. This is an unprecedented opportunity to voice opinions and be
heard.
Mr. Poitras takes exception to using the word monoculture, which
implies a single species, when often after clearcutting the industry
plants with multiple species (black spruce, white spruce, red spruce
and eastern white pine) in an effort to diversify plantations and
mimic natural conditions. We are talking about mimicking natural
conditions here; a plantation will never behave like a natural
condition, providing the appropriate habitat for wildlife and other
forest species. This is along the same vein as a clearcut never
mimics a forest fire.
People should get out in the woods more often and see what is
happening on Crown land. There are some exceptional examples of
forest management in the province and some examples that would make
you shudder take for example the three-foot deep skidder ruts on a
cut block near Hargrove on the Salmon River Rd. (License 6). Or how
about skidders travelling through Peabody Brook on License 5?
All is not well on Crown lands. It is obvious that the people of
this province have been educating themselves about the issues and
what is happening on the ground, and if the Select Committee
Hearings are any indication they are not pleased with what they see.
They are also not impressed by the JPMC proposal to double wood
supply and continue down the road of declining employment
opportunities that industrial forestry will continue to bring to the
province and its citizens.
We want our Crown Lands managed for its ecological diversity, for
its own sake, for all species, for clean water and clean air. We
want our Crown Lands managed for its economic diversity, which will
provide benefits for the people of New Brunswick in perpetuity.
Daily Gleaner | Readers'
Forum
As published on page A8 on November 7, 2003
We must have a say about Crown lands
Dear Editor:
The citizens of New Brunswick should have a
say about Crown lands.
And now they do thanks to the Jaakko Poyry study.
The forest industries proposal to turn our diverse softwood and
hardwood forest into a softwood tree farm has opened the debate on
the future of Crown land in New Brunswick.
Why should our Crown lands be controlled by non-Canadian companies
responding to a shareholder's desire for profits in distant places?
They implement forest management practices to maximize economic
benefits for themselves, with increasingly fewer jobs going to the
people of New Brunswick.
Instead, our Crown lands should be supporting rural communities,
good forest practices and a wide range of forest values.
We should have forest management with the primary objectives of
maintaining the health and biodiversity of the forest in perpetuity
(sustainability), and yielding the best economic return for New
Brunswick communities without depleting our natural capital, an
economy in line with sustainability.
Survival depends on the creation of forest-related skilled jobs:
technicians, mill owners, woodworkers, fine cabinet makers,
flooring, musical instruments, forest rangers, scientists,
foresters, barrel makers, non-timber forest product harvesters,
biologists, park rangers, guides and tourism specialists that
showcase our fabulous Acadian forests.
Perhaps then the local contractor would get a reasonable return for
his investment, become a respectful harvester of wood, which has
value, and not try to emulate the large forest industry with the
"get it all while you can approach."
Perhaps then we would not have communities so marginalized
economically that they feel afraid to speak out and risk further job
losses or communities that find the only way forward is to accept
toxic waste coming from another country. We surely have hit the
bottom when that becomes the sustainable route forward. Pride,
self-respect and any sort of sovereignty has been abandoned.
Let's work to have Crown lands be for the people of New Brunswick.
Get out and let industry and government know that you do not think
the Jaakko Poyry study is the way forward for New Brunswick and that
you look forward to the day that Crown lands are managed for the
sole benefit of the forest and people of New Brunswick.
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