Forestry

Background/Overview

The majority of the reports and studies about land use and land use conflicts in Newfoundland and Labrador have dealt with the forestry sector. Of the total land area of the island of Newfoundland almost one fifth is considered productive forest land. Forests provide residents with more than just forestry products; old growth forests, for example, are valued for their contributions to society in the sense of heritage, culture, aesthetics, and spirituality and non-timber recreational values are expected to play an increasing role in forest management practices. In the Grand Falls-Windsor – Baie Verte – Harbour Breton region, there are parts of several forest management districts (FMDs) present including  Districts: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 16. Many of these individual FMDs have been combined to form planning zones based loosely on their characteristics as ecoregions. For instance, districts 4, 5, 6, and 8 in the eastern portion of the region are considered Planning Zone 3 and have one plan and planning team, as do districts 9 and 16 from Deer Lake to Cat Arm and all of the Baie Verte Peninsula (Planning Zone 7), and districts 10 to 13 (Zone 5 – see Figure 1). District 7 (the area around the Coast of Bays region) has its own planning zone (Planning Zone 4). In order to create the plans associated with each zone, consultations are held with local organizations and stakeholders, the general public, and various departments of government such as the Inland Fish and Wildlife Division, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Water Resources Division, Agrifoods Branch, and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, highlighting the effort to include engagement in the planning process.

In order to manage forest resources as effectively as possible, three levels of plans are prepared for various forest management districts in the province to guide forest management. These include the: 1) Management Plan Report (sometimes called the Forest Ecosystem Strategy Document), which outlines a management strategy for the district based on the direction of the provincial strategy; 2) Five-Year Operating Plan, which outlines where forest management activities are proposed.; and 3) Annual Work Schedule, which more specifically identifies where forest management will occur each year.

In 2009 the AbitibiBowater mill in Grand Falls-Windsor closed. While this has negatively impacted the region’s forest economy, forestry activities continue in the region, including a search for alternative fibre uses, and forestry remains an important aspect of land use to consider in land use planning discussions.

Land-use related issues

Most of the forested land in the province is under tenure arrangements with private companies that have exclusive rights on the land. These existing structures have been identified as an obstacle to the diversification of the forest sector because licensees can hold timber rights whether their facilities are in operation or not, preventing the land from being used for other ventures.

According to Michael Wernerheim and Blair Long, often there has been little consideration given to the alternative and competing uses of forestry areas such as:

• Buffer zones around outfitters camps to aid hunting and fishing activity;
• Ecosystem and wildlife preservation
• Landscape for residential developments
• Areas to support recreation and sport; unique wilderness parks; and
• Buffer zones around communities and/or waterways

Potential conflicts in tenure-held forestry land have caused over 50% of the land held by Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd. (CBPP) to be limited in some way.  Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd. (CBPP) reports that potential conflicts in tenure-held forestry land have caused over 50% of the land held by the company to be limited in some way. Some of these issues include:

• Emerging demands for alternative or multiple land uses in an area, for example the harvesting of plants for medicinal or nutraceutical purposes;
• Competing usage between commercial forestry and household or domestic harvesting for firewood; and
• Conflict between the protection of Woodland Caribou, an at-risk species, and commercial forestry, with recommended buffer zones that are needed to protect caribou habitat.

The harvesting of forest resources near communities can also pose issues. For example, in April 2010, the mayor of Buchans wrote a letter to the Chair of the Five Year Plan Operating Committee expressing concern and displeasure at the amount of tree harvesting that had taken place to close to the community. He argued that not only does logging negatively impact the scenic views from the community; it also poses threats to moose, caribou and the already endangered pine marten populations.

Another potential land use issue identified by the Department of Natural Resources is that forest management activities such as road construction, use and maintenance, timber harvesting, and the growing and harvesting of farmed trees may potentially affect the quality of water draining from watersheds as well as water discharges from municipalities.

Case Study Report

The Forestry Land Use Planning Case Study Report and associated presentation are now available.  The report examines the British Columbia Forestry Service and the Timiskaming Forest Alliance (Ontario).  Click on the above link to see the report and presentation.