Several Quebec scientists are urging the government to use proven financial tools to protect the province’s mature forests. In a letter sent to To have tothe co-signatories thus propose to “account the benefits” of the protection of these ecosystems, which make it possible both to fight against the climate crisis and to preserve the habitats essential to the survival of the forest-dwelling caribou.
While the CAQ government repeats that the protection of woodland caribou must not harm the Quebec economy, the 37 co-signatories argue that the protection of the last old growth forests in the province is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (GHG) and that it would also have economic benefits. Scientists from a dozen universities also recall that “this strategy, known as ‘nature-based solutions’, is widely recognized by science and major international organizations”, including the Intergovernmental Group of experts on climate change (IPCC).
“Among the positive spin-offs of sustainable forest management practices, carbon sequestration is probably the one that could most effectively justify the costs necessary to preserve within the territories occupied by woodland caribou the large forest areas necessary to maintain its populations, ”they add in this appeal to the Legault government.
Professor at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi, Jean-François Boucher explains that one of the options for achieving this objective would be to launch “carbon credit” projects on public lands covered with forests. Since companies must buy GHG emission allowances to comply with provincial regulations, they could do so here. The funds generated would then be used to “finance initiatives that are useful in the fight against climate change and compatible with sustainable forest management, in order to create new economic activity”.
The scientists also propose devoting more resources from the Electrification and Climate Change Fund (the former Green Fund) to finance projects, such as planting or reforestation of old forest roads. Such operations would make it possible to sequester more carbon, while creating or maintaining jobs in the forestry sector.
Consideration should also be given to using funds to “compensate” companies that are denied access to protected forests because of their importance in addressing the climate crisis and protecting caribou, they say. forest. In this case, the funds would therefore be used to finance “nature-based solutions” for the preservation of biodiversity and the climate.
Changes
Co-signer of the letter and director of the Center for Forest Studies, Pierre Drapeau believes that the need to protect mature forests requires a change in our “traditional” ways of doing things, which boil down to cutting more and more natural forests, always further north.
In this sense, the use of economic tools such as “carbon credits” and funds devoted to the fight against climate change could promote the development of new practices. “We can think of investing in intensive forestry, as the Swedes and Finns do, but close to processing centres. We could therefore develop our forestry around a forest that we grow, instead of cutting more and more natural forests. »
To hope to save the woodland caribou, it is essential to preserve what remains of mature forests, which constitute an essential habitat for the species. “The more logging we do, the more the mature forests [non touchées] are important. And if we want to have some leeway to avoid losing the caribou, we must not disturb what is not,” explains Martin-Hugues St-Laurent, caribou specialist and co-signer of the letter.
“We have virtually no quality habitats and connectivity corridors left. We must therefore consolidate what we have left. But for now, the logic is to cut down the forest, and then promise a restoration plan. It’s a bit like tearing the roof off your house and promising to put a new one in 20 years,” adds the man who directs a research program in animal ecology at the University of Quebec at Rimouski.