Not everybody is in love with forest practice changes By JEFF NAGEL THE LONG-awaited over- haul of the Forest Prac- tices Cade puts the job of protecting the environment in industry hands, Green party leader Adriane Carr charged during a visit here last week, She predicted it will lead to new international markel. campaigns against. B.C, producers —- a new war in the woods to starve companies of customers. “T don’t think anybody wants to go back to that,” Carr said, adding environ- mental groups are already pearing up. The new resulls-based code unveiled last week slashes away much of the old rules, but detailed Standards aren’t yet de- fined. Instead the govern- ment has faid out enabling legislation called the For- est’ and Range Practices Act. “Right now we don’t have a clue what those re- sulls are we're supposed to ” Carr said. “It’s a re- cipe for disaster.” ‘Rather than exhaustive- ly telling companies how to cut and manage forests, the government will speci- fy-end results for various measures of forest health that companies must meet. The end goal is the same — environmentally sound logging ~ but with less paperwork and much less cost incurred along the way. “We’re cutting through red tape sa government and the forest sector can practise smart manage- ment,” forests minister Mike de Jong said. Instead of shuffling paper, he said, forestry professionals will have more time to spend in the field. “We will eliminate 18 approval steps that wasted effort without improving Protectione i ircisi i ato The onus. will be on. companies to meet the standards or face fines of up to $1 million or even jail time. Comprehensive forest stewardship plans are to replace three other types of operational plans. Com- panies must produce site- specific plans on request. But Carr charged the new rules will mean much less chance for the public to examine plans before cutting takes place. She also questioned the layoff of 700 forest mini- stry personnel, along with the closure of numerous forest service offices. The cutbacks mean fewer government watch- dogs preventing problems rather than fixing them later, she said. “They are the eyes and ears of the public in the forests,” Carr said. Instead, she predicted, reporting of forest practice violations will fall to vo- lunteers with environ- mentai groups. “Our public forests will have private masters,” added BCGEU president George ‘Heyman, “Corporations will monitor themselves under laws they have written to max- imize their own profit.” Industry reps, the WA and the Northwest Loggers Association praised the document. They said the new flexibility should make the industry stronger and more competitive. It’s too early to tell how much money the new code’ could save companies like Skeena Cellulose. But company CEO Dan Veniez :likes what has been tabled so far. “It’s a meaningful, con- structive, significant step along the way to meaning- ful reform of forest policy,” Veniez said. He said slashing the pa- perwork burden will elimi- nate much wasted effort and money required under the current code. “T can’t stress enough how cumbersome it has been, how costly it has been and how frustrating it has been — for everybody.” Veniez -said. he’s hope- ful the new rules provide enough flexibility to re- cognize the unique chal- lenges of logging in this part of the province. The Association of B.C. Professional ‘Foresters also The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - A7 _ IMAGES hy KARLENE welcomes Michelle Strumecki. welcomed the new rules. “We have long advoca- ted a move to results- based forestry,” said presi- dent Bill Warner. “The prescriptive nature of the current Forest Practices Code seriously diminished the role of resource profes- sionals.” Michelle is trained in massage and hydrotherapy as well as Reiki, aromatherapy, trigger point therapy and various forms o spiritual healing. Come in and enjoy a massage, body scrub or wrap. Mich is looking forward to seeing past clients and meeting new ones. 4718-B LAZELLE AVE., TERRACE 635-4997 1-800-251-4997 =~ wwreteracestndrdcan | FRR Check out aus ef OF 08 88-721 bor acrectning tniermunbon: Adriane Carr oy * 4-Wheet Disc. cena | Aatiock Brakes» 440 Stk Front Bench with PONTIAC] BUICK] CONTRIBUTOR Ff RICH Sponsored by the Committee to re-elect Rich McDanial