4s liad
A GUIDE TO

FOREST POLICY

——
eens hers of Ain
eiGnal C ounelt ‘Oo. 1

4

1WA DRAFTS
GUIDE TO
FOREST POLICY

Regional Council No. 1 concerned with
the growing loss of our prime forests has
published the following guide to forest
policy in which are set out a number of
points that the I.W.A. believes must be
followed if our forests are to survive and

increase.

PREAMBLE

The demand for consumptive and non-
consumptive products from our forested
lands is continuing to increase. At the same
time the productive forested land base
continues to shrink as a result of both
natural and human activity. The increased
user demands on a shrinking forest base is
manifesting itself through industrial timber
deficits coupled with an increasing fre-
quency of land use conflicts and disputes.

The International Woodworkers of Amer-
ica recognizes that society demands numer-
ous and often conflicting products or bene-
fits from its finite forest land base. The
I.W.A. also recognizes that to satisfy the
needs or demands of all competing interest
groups in a land use dispute is an impossible
task. Trade-offs and compromise have to be
made among resource users. Firm and
enlightened forest land use policies must be
established along with improved forest
management programs. Forest manage-
ment implies management and protection
for the multiple and integrated use of forest
land, e.g. water, wildlife, fish, recreation
and timber.

The International Woodworkers of Amer-
ica developed its forest policies on the
following three basic premises:

(1) The nation as a whole is facing both
short term and long term industrial
wood shortages.

(2) A balance in the use of the forest for
consumptive and non-consumptive
products based upon the economic,
social and recreational needs of
society must be established.

(3) The concept of multiple use.

The forest policy proposals in the land use
zoning section are an attempt to recognize
and resolve or minimize potential conflicts
among resource users by protecting essen-
tial values whether these values are con-
sumptive or non-consumptive.

10/Lumber Worker/September, 1980

Canada’s forest capital is badly depleted
and yet as a nation we continue to accumu-
late annually at least 600,000 acres of
inadequately stocked forest land. The
600,000 acre annual accumulation is a result
of both human and natural activity. Local
wood shortages in all provinces are already
apparent. Increased wood deficits in the
longer term are predicted given the present
level of timber management being practised
in thenation. Because of the industrial wood
shortages and the resultant affect on
employment and the economy, both short
term utilization and long term wood produc-
tion objectives have to be established.

In the short term a concerted effort must
be made to improve the utilization and
efficiency of the conversion process. The
allowable harvest can be effectively
extended by producing more product from a
given input of wood. Increased resources
must be made available for forest products
research and development in order to realize
the potential short term gains. One of the
more lucrative areas for research appears to
be in the utilization of present non-
commercial tree species, e.g. aspen, alder.

Successful development of non-commer-
cial species as a desirable wood furnish for
industry effectively increases the allowable
harvest and industrial activity without any
physical change to the forest itself.

Equally important in the short term is to
increase the value added in manufacturing.
As technological development continues to
displace workers in the primary processes,
secondary forest based industries must be
encouraged to develop. Export of raw or
semi-finished products must be discouraged.

The long term wood production goals of
the I.W.A. are to grow more and better trees.
The vast acreage of not adequately stocked
forest land in each province must be planted
with commercial tree species. Equally
important is the treatment of existing young
timber stands that will respond to proven
silvicultural treatments. The objectives of
increasing wood quantities or to improve on
quality in timber stands must become an
increasingly important forest practice.

Long term financial commitments for
forest management research must be made
if we wish to maintain Canada as the
world’s leading forest products exporting
nation. Increased support for vocational,
technical and professional training in forest
management and related fields must be
given.

In the process of developing a forest policy
a number of observations were made. One
important observation was that as a nation
our knowledge of our forest resources is
appallingly inadequate. Before we can
begin to effectively manage our forest
resources or establish forest management
objectives or timber production goals with
any degree of confidence, we must know
what we have to manage.

Forest policy development is an evolution-
ary process. The best solution to problems
today may not be considered the best solu-
tion tomorrow. The policies that have been
adopted by the I.W.A. may have to be
modified at a later date if better information
becomes available or public attitudes and
needs drastically change.

The policies contained in this booklet and
adopted by the Regional Council cover
issues that are common to the area repre-
sented by Regional Council No. 1. It is not
an exhaustive policy statement for each pro-
vince and even regions within a province
have forms of tenure, problems and geo-
graphy that in itself are unique. Public
demands and needs vary considerably from
one area to another.

The policies outlined in this booklet will
act as the base from which the Regional
Council will continue to develop forest
policy and from which the Council will
approach forest related issues within its
area of jurisdiction.

LAND USE

(a) The I.W.A. endorses the concept of
multiple use of forest land.

(b) The I.W.A.’s definition of multiple use
does not preclude the withdrawal of local-

ized areas for single use purpose. It does
demand, however, the classification of
relatively large areas of the forest into the
following land use zones:

(i) protective forest;

(ii) recreational forest;

Gii) multiple use forest;

(iv) commercial forest.

(c) In order to classify forested land as to
its primary land use designation the follow-
ing factors must be considered:

(1) economic constraints to timber
harvesting;

(ii) protection and conservation of soil
productivity;

(iii) protection of waterflow and quality;

(iv) protection of upland habitat and
wildlife species;

(v) protection of forest vegetation
patterns;

(vi) protection of aquatic habitat;

(vii) advance recognition of non-timber
values on forest land.

(d) (i) Protective Forest

Harvesting would not be allowed in order
to protect other essential values.

(ii) Recreational Forest

The forest would be managed primarily to
enhance recreational opportunities. This
forest area could, in some instances, allow
commercial timber harvesting operations
provided harvesting was compatible with
the basic management plan.

(iii) Multiple Use Forest

The forest would be managed in order to
reflect a number of important values. Modi-
fied harvesting patterns and techniques
would be necessitated. Trade-offs and com-
promise among resource users must be
made. —

(iv) Commercial Forest

The commercial forest would be used
solely for the production of wood for
industry.

TIMBER MANAGEMENT
(a) Inventory and Information System
Fundamental to forest management is the
development of a high quality inventory of
the forest land base with respect to potential
productivity. Equally important is the
development of accurate inventories of
growing stock by site, age and species by
timber supply or management unit.
Information on:
(i) timber supply;
(ii) timber depletion;
(iii) realistic growth and yield predic-
tions;
(iv) annual allowable cuts;
must be maintained and kept current.
This information should be made avail-
able for public scrutiny on an annual basis.

(b) Reforestation

Nursery capacity in the provinces must be
increased in order that current reforestation
needs are met and that the huge backlog of
inadequately stocked forest land in the
nation can be rehabilitated within fifteen
years.

The I.W.A. proposes that:

(i) Current reforestation requirements be
made the responsibility of the license
holder.

(ii) Harvested and burned-over land must
be placed into a productive state as quickly
as is practically possible. Forest practices
required to ensure full stocking within a
time frame which is reasonable for the
biogeoclimatic zone must be made manda-
tory without exception.

(iii) Harvested and burned-over forest
land should be planted where practical and
not left to nature and possible delays.

(iv) A comprehensive reforestation audit
should be conducted on operations to ensure
that land is being restocked as quickly as it
is being depleted or that contractual stan-
dards are being met.

(v) Severe penalties should be imposed
where a shortfall in restocking is apparent
as a result of company neglect.

(vi) The cost of reforestation should be

considered as a cost of logging and expensed
accordingly.

SEE “FOREST POLICY” — PAGE ELEVEN