Agriculture and Forestry Minister Eric Hammill said today he welcomes the recommendations of the Forest Partnership Council which propose the establishment of standards for the commercial harvest of private woodlots. The Council submitted the proposed regulations to the minister today.
"The Forest Partnership Council is to be commended for the extensive consultations and deliberations which it has conducted on the proposed regulations, and I look forward to reviewing its recommendations" said Mr. Hammill. "I believe that, on the whole, there is significant support for measures which would control softwood harvests, protect the environment and provide for increased reforestation."
Mr. Hammill said that he will be taking the Council's recommendations to cabinet in the near future.
The Council was given the mandate to develop recommendations on a regulated code of practice for harvest contractors after less than half adopted a voluntary code. The Round Table on Resource Land Use and Stewardship had recommended a regulated approach if a system of harvest controls was not agreed upon, and amendments to the Forest Management Act during the spring session of the Legislature provided for the introduction of harvest regulations.
"The objective of new measures will be to ensure the sustainability of the Island's forestry resources and the economic benefits they provide, especially to rural communities," said the minister. "I want to thank the members of the Forest Partnership Council for their input on this very important issue."