The forest canot be seen as…

The forest canot be seen as a source of wood and associated employment to the exclusion of ecosystems, keystone species and climate change, including the impact of the latter on ecosystems and wildlife. Neither can it be seen as something to cut through to provide the most convenient solution to a private business concern. Enough of this silo mentality. One has to actively ignore the available research, the news and one's own environment if one is not aware of pollution, toxicity, unsustainable resource extraction and agricultural practices, drastic reduction of wildlife and climate change. The massive extinction of species and climate change are upon us. I strongly urge the government of Ontario not to ignore ecosystems, keystone species and climate change in the name of private profit, through business or associated employment. Much of what we have been ignoring in our human centred activity must be rapidly incorporated into any 'forest sector' strategy. We might not expect wood harvesting and wood plantation specialists to be knowledgeable of the need for biodiversity, of ecosystem health and the nature of space needed by wildlife. They are likely to severely damage all of that in their activities, including how access and shipping routes are planned, if not subjected to an environmental master plan. While it is a good idea to minimise the burden of regulation to the extent regulation can be well designed and delivered, it remains part of the human condition that we must be regulated so that we do not abuse someone and/or something, even inadvertently. None of us on our own can be perfectly aware of the consequences of our actions. Some of us do not care beyond our personal wellbeing. The government of Ontario can frame its forest sector policy with intent to provide the appropriate contraints based on the wider context. It should coordinate with natural resource exploitation operations as well because they have an impact on wildlife and ecosystems, including the forest. The consultation of native populations is necessary for multiple reasons and environmental scientists must also participate to record and learn from the consultation process so that all new exploitation and all existing exploitation can be informed of the most productive approach. Productivity is intended here to included ecosystems and wildlife as well as social wellbeing, not just the exploiting private sector's profitability and the employment the sector might provide.