Six months after committing to promote the development of maple syrup, the Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, Pierre Dufour, released Thursday his Master Plan for the Development of Maple Syrup in Public Forests. This will be a challenge, shows the consultation document.
Posted at 4:53 p.m.
“When practiced on the same area, maple syrup production and the production of lumber for the sawmill industry have an impact on each other,” underlines the Master Plan.
And transferring “an area intended for wood production to exclusive maple production” would reduce the possibility of forestry, warns the document.
While the agricultural industry needs access to tap trees to grow, the forestry industry “is concerned about the stability of its lumber supply” and “deplores a certain shortage of hardwoods”.
This preliminary version of the plan, dated May 5, is subject to an online public consultation until July 26.
The Quebec Maple Syrup Producers (PPAQ) have been calling since the end of 2020 for Quebec to take maple syrup into account in the management of public forests. Minister Dufour made a commitment last November to promote and develop their industry.
“Maple production is a leading economic activity,” acknowledges the Master Plan prepared by its officials.
Quebec is the main player, with 71.4% of world production. Maple products generated nearly $500 million in export revenue in 2020. Nearly one tap in five (18%) is made on trees in the public forest, which has more than 1,100 maple stands.
To meet growing demand, the PPAQ authorized nearly 7 million additional taps last year, including just over 11% in public forests.
According to the ministry, more than 84 million additional taps could be made there, two-thirds of which in the Laurentians (39%) and Outaouais (29%). However, this theoretical potential does not take into account constraints such as access to the road network and the electricity network.
However, sugar maple is also used for various “household goods” (furniture, mouldings, veneer, floor coverings, etc.), recalls the Master Plan, noting increases, both for the demand for these products and for the price of the wood itself.
However, withdrawing 100 hectares “for the purpose of wood production towards maple production” would be equivalent to “a reduction in the allowable cut of 130 m3 per year,” said the ministry.