In the editorial published in Press on November 22, editorialist Philippe Mercure seemed to claim that the forestry industry was solely responsible for the current caribou situation. However, several factors having an impact on caribou habitat are known: climate change, urban sprawl, overhunting, diseases, predation and, yes, forest roads. Obviously, climate change and its many impacts have an impact that needs to be studied at this time.
It seems essential to me to clarify that the industry has never claimed that its activities have no impact on caribou. Quebec’s forest industry is one of the most certified in the world, which means that it meets many standards that include, among other things, the protection of wildlife, including woodland caribou. Remember that according to the work of Ouranos, the borders of ecological zones migrate north by 10 km per year. Does this mean that this reality will have no impact on caribou ranges?
It must be said that the industry must and wishes to be part of the solution, because harvesting, recycling and putting back into production must necessarily be done in a sustainable and responsible manner.
We are also fervent defenders of the resource and we will be at the table to find solutions. It is in this context that the industry offers a passageway between the protection of the territory and the supply of wood. This alternative does exist and is even listed in the Sustainable Forest Management Act : zones of intensification of wood production.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, PRESS ARCHIVES
Lumber in Saguenay – Lac-Saint-Jean
Quebecers want to be able to build with wood at a reasonable cost. What’s more, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recommends it in order to capture and store carbon while replacing more polluting materials. The pandemic has clearly shown us that wood products are essential in our everyday life. Just think of hygienic products or even cardboard boxes widely used in deliveries of all kinds. To be able to meet this demand, sustainable timber harvesting is essential.
Mr. Mercure, it is fair to say that “reconciling industry and wildlife protection is difficult”. The search for balanced solutions drives the industry because it must respond to consumers and entrepreneurs by supplying them with quality wood, to support the 140,000 jobs generated by the sector and to contribute to our collective fight against change. climatic. We will have to innovate in our practices by intensifying forest cultivation in certain areas and protecting other areas.
Forest paths
In the same text, you say that the forest roads of the industry favor predation of caribou by wolves. It would be fair to add, on the one hand, that forest roads have multiple uses in forest regions and that many citizens are their users. Let us think of snowmobilers, hunters and vacationers who also use these paths which are built according to strict standards and criteria applied by the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs. The checkerboard cut which led to the proliferation of forest roads was, on the other hand, imposed on forestry contractors following the Coulombe commission, thus responding to pressure from groups, some of which today point to the industry.
The industry intends to work together to find solutions that will meet the challenges of tomorrow. We firmly believe that together, forest partners, we will find sustainable solutions for the benefit of Quebecers.
Since a coin always has two sides, it is too often easy to point out the forestry industry as the sole culprit, when the other side of the coin would benefit from being exposed. This would present an industry with sustainable and innovative practices that works to meet the current and future needs of Quebecers and that is committed to participating in Quebec’s green transition.
* Read “The merchants of doubt against the caribou” What do you think? Express your opinion