In reviewing the draft i…

In reviewing the draft i noted only one mention of private woodlots and that was in reference to increasing harvest opportunities. no discussion of how this will be achieved, especially as most small sawmills have closed, many due to onerous regulation.

However, my primary concern is that there is NO mention of the other benefits that can be achieved by encouraging good forest management in woodlots in this draft document. Since many woodlots are often located close to urban areas, their contribution to local environments is well established. Furthermore, it has been shown that a well managed woodlot captures more carbon, provides habitat for wildlife, improves air and water quality all in addition to providing products such as sawlogs, firewood, and maple syrup to name just a few.

Yet no mention of any of this in your draft strategy. No mention of encouraging forest management of woodlots, no mention of providing advice to landowners such as forestry extension, no mention of working with associations that promote forest management on woodlots, no mentions of helping groups to provide learning opportunities to woodlot owners, no mention of reducing the municipal regulatory limits that woodlots face.

Although I am not optimistic, I hope that you will revise this draft to include woodlots in your future programs.