A win-win opportunity

Dear sir:
On March 10, Fort Frances town council rejected a provincial initiative called “Room to Grow,” which would allow for the creation of new parks and protected areas.
Instead, council agreed to support the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association’s resolution to oppose the project because of concern the creation of any new parks represents a threat to the forest industry.
At the end of the “Lands for Life” land-use planning process, the Ontario Forest Accord was signed by the provincial government, the Partnership for Public Lands (Wildlands League, Federation of Ontario Naturalists, and World Wildlife Fund), and the forest industry.
The agreement covered protected areas, forestry, and land-use planning, and included 31 separate commitments. Under it, the government committed to finishing a fully-representative system of protected areas by adding new parks and protected areas beyond the 12 percent already protected.
The Ontario Forest Accord Advisory Board (OFAAB), which was to oversee implementation of the forest accord, and which included equal representation from the groups that signed the accord, reached a consensus on a “Room to Grow” policy framework that was intended to produce economic and conservation benefits for Ontario.
The recommendations of the “Room to Grow” report were accepted by the minister of Natural Resources.
It is unfortunate that “Room to Grow” is seen as a threat to the forest industry. The report by the OFAAB described a number of new mechanisms that would allow the expansion of the parks system while protecting the viability of the forest industry.
“Room to Grow” outlined how permanent increases in wood supplies will be shared between new parks and protected areas and more wood for the forest industry.
The report also discussed mitigation measures designed to protect the forest industry, and showed that a variety of mitigation strategies have been very successful in compensating the forest industry for any loss of wood supplies caused by the creation of the new parks and protected areas under the “Lands for Life” process.
The mechanisms that have been recommended clearly protect access to wood supply to support jobs and growth—even as new parks are created.
If one needs assurances that the “Room to Grow” report is balanced and supportive of the forest industry, one only has to consider that it was signed by Domtar Inc., Abitibi-Consolidated Co. of Canada, and Tembec Inc.
We live in an age where options to protect wilderness areas are rapidly disappearing in the face of increasing development pressures. We need to have the foresight and courage to give lasting protection to areas that have aesthetic, ecological, and sacred values that are independent of their economic potential.
“Room to Grow” represents a win-win opportunity to protect more of Ontario’s wild places while ensuring the health of our forest industry.
Unfortunately, the recommendations of the “Room to Grow” report are not legally binding. A recent declaration order by the Ministry of the Environment modifying the application of the Ministry of Natural Resources for a renewal of its approval to conduct logging on public lands makes only token reference to the Ontario Forest Accord and “Room to Grow” while putting wood production ahead of forest protection.
If left unchanged, the MoE’s declaration order will deregulate the forest industry to such an extent that accountability to the public for forestry operations and the protection of old growth forests, wildlife habitat, and roadless wilderness areas will be significantly weakened.
The public has until April 13 to comment on the MoE’s declaration offer. There still may be time for the full “Room to Grow” wood sharing mechanism to be included in the Environmental Assessment Approval.
Thank you for allowing me to express my concerns.
Signed,
Peter J. Ferris
Fort Frances, Ont.