Although the Strategy…

Although the Strategy includes the promotion of stewardship and sustainability, the focus seems to be on increasing wood supply, removing barriers to wood supply and increase harvest without the integration of sustainable management. There is ample information about innovation and technology to help the industry, but the Strategy does not mention the opportunities to use innovation to increase recycled wood products, instead of virgin wood products.

I am not comfortable with increasing the amount of Crown forest that is harvested. Forests are essential to healthy ecosystems, provide habitats to an abundance of wildlife and help to mitigate the affects of climate change. We need more trees and forests, not less. There needs to be plans in place to plant and grow more trees.

What is evidently lacking in this Strategy is the consideration of the wildlife that would be displaced if more Crown forest is harvested. It’s time for Ontario to demonstrate its commitment to a sustainable future for all, which starts with a responsible forest sector strategy that includes limits to expansion to ensure wildlife survival.