Protecting our forests is…

Protecting our forests is protecting our air and water. Forests prevent soil erosion and help flood control. We need to preserve the forests that we have and also plant - and care for - many more trees, to provide oxygen, sequester carbon, and clean the air.

The proposed changes to forest management under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act will mean that new permits are not required to promote forest sustainability and will not be subject to forest renewal requirements; the Minister will not have to prioritize forest protection in permit approval decisions if the proposed changes pass.

The proposed amendments also represent a reduction in oversight as the a forestry licence holder can make changes to their work plan without Minister approval, and Minister approval is no longer needed for those annual work plans. Accountability and oversight is also reduced in the proposed changes as several reports will no longer have to be tabled in the Legislature or approved by Cabinet.

These amendments are astonishing and pose an unacceptable threat to our forests, air and water.