I am a forestry technician…

I am a forestry technician with 15 years of experience in silviculture and management planning. The following comments and suggestions are in relation to EBR posting 013-4143.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) remains difficult to apply to forest management due to the enhanced protection of certain species which is good but there needs to be an equal balance so it does not severely limit other forest managemnt outcomes.

The Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA) has been very effective legislation to regulate forestry in Ontario as it balances the social, economic, and environmental outcomes within the forestry industry.

Government still needs to find a way to make the ESA work for forestry as well the endangered species without jeopardizing one or the other. The only implementable solution has come through the use of an ESA Section 55 Regulation which expires next year. The Section 55 Regulation whch recognizes the CFSA creates a more balanced aproach to achieve species protection as well as not greatly limiting forest management objectives.

A few recommendations I have would be:

-Implementing a permanent ESA Section 55 regulatory exemption for the forest sector that recognizes the CSFA.

-Continuing to manage the at risk species through the CFSA as well as developing species prescriptions with input from forest stakeholders along with other professionals within the forestry sector.

-Any socio-economic impact analysis should be made and shared with impacted forest stakeholders and First Nations before any policy is implemented.