Report proposes more sustainable forestry

By Trevor Doré, Opinions Editor

n January 11, 2010, the previously

unthinkable happened. Some might

compare it to a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
like collaboration or perhaps the completion of the
perfect yin yang.

What I speak of is the collaboration of
woodworking unions and environmentalists. These
two groups have had their fair share of differences
in the past but they are now banding together to
help protect forests and jobs while fighting climate
change—the perfect symbiosis.

According to a newsletter released by the
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, “Forest
industry unions and leading environmental groups
have united behind a plan that calls on the B.C.
government to conserve more forest, halt rampant
wood waste and promote wise use of forest
products—all as part of a concerted effort to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions.”

The two groups have come together following
what they see as failed talks in Copenhagen. The
fact that B.C.’s forestry industry has been in a state
of decline for some time now is news to no one.

18

Loggers and tree-huggers come together

The plan will hopefully provide a breath of fresh
air to a somewhat deflated industry, bringing new
approaches to management and maximizing carbon
capture.

The report is officially called Managing
B.C.’s Forests for a Cooler Planet: Carbon
Storage, Sustainable Jobs and Conservation, and
was released by the CCPA; BC Government and
Service Employees’ Union; Communications,
Energy and Paperworkers of Canada; David Suzuki
Foundation; Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of
Canada; Sierra Club BC; United Steelworkers
District 3 — Western Canada; and Western Canada
Wilderness Committee.

The report outlines many aspects of the
forestry industry. It calls for increased conservation
and longer times between logging. The current
calculation of how much forest should be logged,
the “Allowable Annual Cut” would be revamped
to include data on carbon storage; the “Carbon
Cut Calculation.” High wood waste generated in
logging operations would be virtually eliminated
and new trees would be planted specifically for
the purpose of carbon capture. A “true” no net
deforestation policy would be implemented and all

 

forest carbon credits and debits would be accounted
for.

Woodworkers and environmentalists have
a common interest in preserving and properly
managing forests in B.C. and around the world.
Working together provides a great opportunity
to move towards a more sustainable future in
which forests are more resilient to climate change
and managed in a way that puts them in a better
position to supply the needs of a more sustainable
green economy. :

So often people argue that you can’t have
things both ways—forest conservation reduces
forestry jobs and forestry jobs reduce conservation.
This new plan shows that the two can go hand in
hand. Many other industries need to and should be
taking this lead. It is refreshing and hopeful to see
environmentalists and forestry workers on the same
side. In the end, everyone wants sustainable jobs
and real world solutions to address the challenges
we face both in terms of economics and the
environment.

 

 

Fuming? Nodding? Tell us what you think; contact
opinions@ theotherpress.ca with your opinions about this
or any other article