Forest Ministers Addressing Forest Challenges
Helping Canada maintain its position as a world leader in sustainable forest management and ensuring the future competitiveness of the forest sector were discussed at the annual meeting of the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers in Halifax on Tuesday, Sept. 24.
"At the meeting, Canada's provincial, territorial and federal forest ministers sought consensus and provided direction on key issues affecting the sustainability of forests throughout Canada," said Tim Olive, Nova Scotia's Minister of Natural Resources and chair of the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers.
Some of these issues included a joint initiative called Forest 2020, Criteria and Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management, the development of a new National Forest Strategy and a plan to revamp the national forest fire infrastructure.
The ministers agreed to support the concept of a new joint initiative called Forest 2020 and to promote it with their constituencies. Forest 2020 calls for innovation and investments in fast-growing high-yield tree plantations and intensive silviculture, which would significantly boost the country's supply of wood fibre while contributing to forest ecosystem conservation and community sustainability.
"With this support of the concept by the provinces and territories, I will engage my federal colleagues in providing necessary federal support for an initial investment that will enable Forest 2020 to unfold," said Herb Dhaliwal, Minister of Natural Resources Canada.
"Forest 2020 calls for deploying Canada's advanced scientific knowledge to derive the complete range of economic, environmental and social benefits that can be generated by sustainable forest management and that people now expect," said Mr. Olive. "Forest 2020 will reaffirm Canada's role as a world leader in forest stewardship."
The ministers reviewed the progress and reaffirmed their commitment to the council's criteria and indicators framework. This framework is a measure of the sustainability of Canadian forests, necessary to ensure the quality of life for all who depend on them.
The ministers committed to move forward on the Strategic Plan for the Renewal of the Canadian Forest Fire Infrastructure. A committee of ministers from Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan and Alberta has been struck to work with their federal counterparts to advance the plan.
The ministers reviewed the progress of the National Forest Strategy Coalition towards the development of a new National Forest Strategy. They were invited to play a role in building the new strategy through a series of cross-country consultations in the coming weeks. The new strategy will be released at the National Forest Congress in Ottawa, May 1-2, 2003.
Canada's Forest Biodiversity was also tabled by the federal government. The report describes how the forest community in Canada is meeting its commitments on biodiversity.
The ministers discussed the progress towards the 12th World Forestry Congress in Quebec City, Sept. 21-28, 2003. They were invited to play an active role at the congress and to showcase their sustainable forest management practices.
The ministers acknowledged good progress on the further development of a National Forest Information System over the last year. Highlights include expanded integration among jurisdictions and forthcoming operational implementation.
They also acknowledged the value of the First Nations Forestry Program and urged the federal government to consider its continuation beyond 2002.
Mr. Dhaliwal accepted the chairmanship of the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers for the coming year.
"The initiatives of the council are important to address national and international forest issues," he said. "The council is a unique platform to share federal, provincial and territorial views and meet common goals to address the challenges of sustainable forest management."