Managing Forest through Provincial Strategy
Managing the forest ecosystems of the province continues to evolve from an initial period of exploitation, to timber management, to integrated forest management and, today, to sustainable forest management. During this time, aboriginal people have used forests for shelter and subsistence purposes and, likewise, when European settlers arrived, they cleared land and used the forest for lumber to build homes, fishing stages and subsistence requirements.
Over time, the management of forests has changed from one of single value use to sustainable forest management involving environmental, economic and social values. This Provincial Strategy presents the direction for managing the forest ecosystems of the province. Embraced is the philosophy of finding a balance between environmental, economic and social values desired by society. The four strategic directions identified in this Strategy give guidance to balancing all forest values. The environmental, economic and social directions incorporate the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers criteria and indicators framework to measure progress towards sustainable forest management. A separate
strategic direction for Labrador is presented to address issues unique to that region of the province. A short summary of each strategic direction follows:
1. Ecologically-based forest management:
The foundation for sustainable forest management will be establishing an ecological planning framework. Ecosystem-based guidelines will be developed using existing information. A biodiversity assessment program will continue to be developed.
Biodiversity:
This Strategy will address three biodiversity values; protecting forest ecosystems, special places and wildlife habitat.
Healthy Forests:
Healthy forests will require maintaining the natural ecological processes and productivity of forest ecosystems.
Water and soil:
Essential to ecosystem productivity, aquatic habitat and human survival is the protection of soil and water.
Global impacts:
Work will be initiated to determine the total amount of carbon in the province's forest ecosystems.
2. Economic considerations:
Forest ecosystems will continue to provide many economic benefits to the province. This Provincial Strategy will guide the further development of both timber and non-timber forest products industries.
3. Social considerations:
This Strategy will ensure continued meaningful public participation in forest management planning.
4. Labrador
Aboriginal participation will continue to be supported and forest
management tools will be enhanced to enable responsible forest
management in Labrador.
All four strategic directions in this Provincial Strategy will require specific directing of financial and human resources, as well as partnerships with other groups in order to achieve successful implementation. To address the cross-departmental issues, a working group of government departments associated with this Strategy will be established. To ensure continued openness and transparency in managing our forests, the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods Forest Policy Committee will adopt an evaluation framework which will guide implementation of this Strategy and be the basis of an annual report on implementation progress.
Measuring the province's success in achieving sustainable forest management will be through the criteria and indicators defined in this Provincial Strategy. The Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods will report to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador
by December 31, 2004 and again by December 31, 2009.
This Provincial Strategy will lead Newfoundland and Labrador into the 21st century of sustainable forest management. It provides the vision and direction to ensure that present and future generations will enjoy the benefits from our province's valuable forest ecosystems.
Managing the forest ecosystems of the province continues to evolve from an initial period of exploitation, to timber management, to integrated forest management and, today, to sustainable forest management. During this time, aboriginal people have used forests for shelter and subsistence purposes and, likewise, when European settlers arrived, they cleared land and used the forest for lumber to build homes, fishing stages and subsistence requirements.
Over time, the management of forests has changed from one of single value use to sustainable forest management involving environmental, economic and social values. This Provincial Strategy presents the direction for managing the forest ecosystems of the province. Embraced is the philosophy of finding a balance between environmental, economic and social values desired by society. The four strategic directions identified in this Strategy give guidance to balancing all forest values. The environmental, economic and social directions incorporate the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers criteria and indicators framework to measure progress towards sustainable forest management. A separate
strategic direction for Labrador is presented to address issues unique to that region of the province. A short summary of each strategic direction follows:
1. Ecologically-based forest management:
The foundation for sustainable forest management will be establishing an ecological planning framework. Ecosystem-based guidelines will be developed using existing information. A biodiversity assessment program will continue to be developed.
Biodiversity:
This Strategy will address three biodiversity values; protecting forest ecosystems, special places and wildlife habitat.
Healthy Forests:
Healthy forests will require maintaining the natural ecological processes and productivity of forest ecosystems.
Water and soil:
Essential to ecosystem productivity, aquatic habitat and human survival is the protection of soil and water.
Global impacts:
Work will be initiated to determine the total amount of carbon in the province's forest ecosystems.
2. Economic considerations:
Forest ecosystems will continue to provide many economic benefits to the province. This Provincial Strategy will guide the further development of both timber and non-timber forest products industries.
3. Social considerations:
This Strategy will ensure continued meaningful public participation in forest management planning.
4. Labrador
Aboriginal participation will continue to be supported and forest
management tools will be enhanced to enable responsible forest
management in Labrador.
All four strategic directions in this Provincial Strategy will require specific directing of financial and human resources, as well as partnerships with other groups in order to achieve successful implementation. To address the cross-departmental issues, a working group of government departments associated with this Strategy will be established. To ensure continued openness and transparency in managing our forests, the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods Forest Policy Committee will adopt an evaluation framework which will guide implementation of this Strategy and be the basis of an annual report on implementation progress.
Measuring the province's success in achieving sustainable forest management will be through the criteria and indicators defined in this Provincial Strategy. The Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods will report to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador
by December 31, 2004 and again by December 31, 2009.
This Provincial Strategy will lead Newfoundland and Labrador into the 21st century of sustainable forest management. It provides the vision and direction to ensure that present and future generations will enjoy the benefits from our province's valuable forest ecosystems.
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