May 7, 2004 National Forest Week in perspective

Forests cover 65% of Ontario with 80% of that area owned by the province and 11% by private landowners.  Forestry, the good use of and preservation of the forests affects all of us either directly or indirectly and has done so for the 200 years of our settlement here.  Natural Resources Canada through the Canadian Forest Service has established an annual National Forest Week to recognize our past, present and future.  This year it is from Sunday May 2 through Saturday May 8.  The theme is “Canada’s forests, a Fine Balance.” 

Mousepad from Ontario Forest Industries Association providing forestry information

There are many group activities scheduled for the week but smaller family or individual activities are or can be planned.  Some people planted tress on April 27, on Earth Day.  You can plant another one or just hug a tree, or learn more about forestry.  The trend now is to create sustainable forests through various organizations, to use the lumber to better advantage through value added activity, by better research on all aspects of forestry from disease prevention to better planting strategies.  The following are some items that may be of interest in celebration National Forest Week. 

Natural Resources Canada (HRC) 

The federal ministry responsible for forestry has an informative website http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/cfs-scf/NFW/index_e.html explaining the week along with a letter by and photo of our Minster of Natural Resources the Honourable R. John Efford.  There is a reference there, and photos from one of the best forestry books available The Forests of Canada by J. David Andrews.  Reference is made NRC’s Canadian Forest Service which overseas forestry in general.  You can contact the Canadian Forest Service at http://www.pfc.forestry.ca/news/national_forest_week/2004/index_e.html

The Canadian Forest Service have been in existence for over 100 years and started celebration in 1926 with Forest Fire Prevention Week when forest fires were the biggest threat.  They are especially concerned with the Carolinian Forests of southern Ontario which are threatened by encroaching urban development and diseases like Elm disease and the current threat by the Asian Long-Horned Beetle which is attacking maple trees. 

They are concerned with the prevention of the extinction of various species.  They also list numerous other forest-related sites. 

For teachers or parents etc. there are dozens of things that can be done to celebrate.  http://collections.ic.gc.ca/canforestry/lowend/forestweek.html 

One other Canadian Forest Service feature is their online bookstore on the NRC website.  They have over 8500 publications on every forest-related topic and is considered “Canada’s foremost forest information source.” 

For an excellent overview of Ontario forests look for this book published by Fitzhenry & Whiteside (2001)

Ontario Resources 

Closer to home the Ontario Forestry Association has an excellent website which among other things has a remarkable list of dozens of forestry websites.  Fore example I logged on to the Managed Forests Tax Incentive Program since I have some acreage and found everything one needs to know to improve your bush lot and save some money.  Every topic from Maple Syrup to work place safety is covered.  http://www.oforest.on.ca/mainframe.php?page+links.html 

Stewardship, a more committed approach to the protection of forests has various groups that one can join.  One is “Trees Ontario” http://www.treesontario.on.ca/main.html.  Its mandate is to revitalize tree planting on private land through a major partnership initiative.  NRC, Canadian Forest Services, Conservation Ontario, Ontario Stewardship have joined to give private landowners financial assistance and advice.  

I want to give a thumbs up to the Forestry Research Partnership (FRP) which is centered at the Canadian Ecology Centre at Samuel de Champlain Park.  They have numerous projects to improve forestry.  They work closely with Tembec which does a remarkable job on the corporate social responsibility (CSF) scale putting it in #1 position in the forestry sector in a recent CSF study.  The FRP have workshops, seminars, courses, demonstrations etc.  They work with the MNR and have a special interest in the Nipissing Forest. 

All of this may be too technical so your interest may be met by a walk in the woods at this time of the year to see the leaves coming out or some wildflowers blooming.  There are many walking trails including 3 of my favorites.  Eau Claire Gorge, the Laurier Woods right in North Bay and the Trail at the Sturgeon River House Museum in Sturgeon Falls to name a few.  A couple of other favorite events that are not held during National Forest Week that I attend regularly are the Mattawa Forestry Appreciation Day and the Algonquin Park Loggers Day sponsored by the Algonquin Forest Authority at the Loggers Museum near the east gate of the Park.  The AFA oversees forest management and harvesting on the Park’s 4850 square kilometers of productive forest in the 7600 square kilometer park. 

Our forests are fundamental to Canadian identity, economic growth and our social fabric – take some time to recognize this May 2 to 8, and otherwise.