The importance of sustainable forest management in private woodlots was a main agenda item at the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers during their annual meeting this week in St. John's, Newfoundland. The ministers agreed to review federal income tax policies as they relate to private woodlots to determine their impact on management practices and to recommend ways such policies can be improved to encourage sustainable forest management.
Prince Edward Island Agriculture and Forestry minister Eric Hammill said the present federal tax policies discourage landowners from carrying out forest improvement practices such as selective harvesting and reforestation. "As stressed in the Round Table Report on Resource Land Use and Stewardship, we need to remove any impediments which hinder the sustainable management of private woodlots," said Mr. Hammill.
At the meeting, chaired by Kevin Alyward, Minister of Forest Resources and Agri-Food for Newfoundland and Labrador, ministers also addressed a host of new and ongoing initiatives including the release of a report on the criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management, renewal of the National Forest Strategy, follow-up to their June National Forest Science and Technology Forum and pursuit of an international forest convention.
The criteria and indicators report describes Canada's commitment to measure the condition of its forests and to track its progress towards sustaining and enhancing all forest values - social, economic and environmental. The report provides valuable insight into Canada's capacity to measure its achievements. The forest ministers' efforts will now focus on expanding current databases to enable Canada to report on more environmental and social values. Provinces who have responsibility to manage forests will undertake the appropriate initiatives to make this possible.
Mr. Hammill said he was pleased to see the commonality between the criteria and indicators report and the recommendations of the province's Round Table report.
Ministers reviewed the final evaluation of the 1992 National Forest Strategy which was conducted by an independent Blue Ribbon Panel of experts. The Panel, represented by Al Davidson, Past-president of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, said that Canada has made demonstrable progress toward sustainable forest management and has provided a valuable framework for action.
The Panel's detailed findings form the background for the CCFM-led public consultations through which a new, revised strategy is being developed. A National Forest Congress will be held in Ottawa in February 1998 where the new strategy will be presented.
Ministers also agreed to the development of a Canadian Forest Science and Technology Plan. That plan will also be considered in developing the new forest strategy. They also called for the establishment of a science and technology alliance to foster better communication among the Canadian forest community.
International forest issues once again topped the CCFM agenda with ministers reaffirming their unanimous resolve to actively pursue an international forest convention. As such, Canada will work within the newly established Intergovernmental Forum on Forests to further this objective. Ministers established a working group to further define potential convention elements.
"Recognition of the need for an international forest agreement has been gaining ground steadily since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. More than 30 countries now support Canada's drive for a convention," said Jean McCloskey on behalf of federal Natural Resources minister Ralph Goodale.
Other issues on the table during the CCFM annual meeting included a discussion of Canada's participation at the upcoming World Forestry Congress in Turkey. Ministers supported the proposal that Quebec City be presented as a candidate for the World Forest Congress in 2003.
"I was glad to see such a willingness to address the major problems facing the forest sector," said Mr. Hammill following the meeting. "I am confident that Prince Edward Island's forests and forest industry will benefit from these initiatives.