OTTAWA – A new report on initiatives taken to further sustainable
forest management in Canada is now available.
The National Forest Strategy Coalition has just released a report on
its accomplishments from 2003 to 2005. These include the establishment
of a national council to coordinate and enhance research and development
efforts among government and industry; new strategies for dealing with
forest threats, such as insects, fire and climate change; and collaborative
efforts to advance boreal forest conservation. These are just a few of
the achievements of Canada's diverse forest community featured
in the report, entitled Highlights of Accomplishments:
Two Years of Progress–Advancing
the National Forest Strategy (2003-2008).
"This report on the forest community's activities gives
us many reasons to be proud in Canada and internationally," said
Jean Cinq-Mars, Chair of the National Forest Strategy Coalition. "It
shows the value of a diverse, national partnership approach, and the
way we ensure the quality of life in our communities through a healthy
environment and continued economic prosperity."
The spirit of cooperation among Canadians finds no greater expression
than in Canada's National Forest Strategy. It is the overarching
national action plan that guides forest policy, science and program initiatives
in Canada, and helps address priority issues in the forest sector. It
is implemented across Canada through the determined actions of governments,
Aboriginal organizations, the timber industry, non-timber forest product
organizations, academia, research institutes, the recreation and tourism
industry, forest practitioners, private woodlot owners, and environmental
groups.
"I am impressed by the Coalition's achievements. This work
builds partnerships in Canada and abroad, and advances sustainable forest
management," said the Honourable John McCallum, Minister of National
Revenue and Minister of Natural Resources. "It also helps raise
awareness of the strengths of the Canadian forest community and its economic,
social and environmental value to all Canadians."
The Honourable J. Michael Miltenberger, Northwest Territories Minister
of Environment and Natural Resources and Chair of the Canadian Council
of Forest Ministers, the trustee of the National Forest Strategy, agrees. "Our
collaboration is essential to maintaining and enhancing the long-term
health of Canada's forest, and is key to building the Canada we
want for ourselves and for future generations," said Minister Miltenberger.
Mr. Andy Neigel, General Manager and Vice President of Operations, Alberta-Pacific
Forest Industries Inc., says responsible forest management can help companies
stay on top in a globally competitive forest industry. "Implementing
sustainable forest management practices can result in significant international
recognition such as Forest Stewardship Council certification, which can
increase Canada's competitiveness in the global marketplace."
As the National Forest Strategy Coalition's report emphasizes,
the activities that have taken place in the first two years of implementation
are the building blocks the country needs to provide environmental, economic,
social and cultural benefits for years to come. The Accomplishments report
is available on the Web at http://nfsc.forest.ca.
For more information, contact:
Jeff Young, Secretariat
National Forest Strategy Coalition
580 Booth Street, 8th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0E4
Tel.: 613-947-9031
Fax: 613-947-9033
E-mail: nfsc@forest.ca
Ghyslain Charron
Media Relations
Natural Resources Canada
Ottawa
(613) 992-4447
media@nrcan.gc.ca
