Day Nine
Fredericton
December 3, 2003 

Michael Kennedy, M. Sc. Forestry candidate, UNB.
Mr. Kennedy feels that community forestry is the next step in forest management, meaning an actively managed forest though before overhauling the system completely, we need pilot projects to begin with. He added it didn't seem that industry was looking after jobs, that one of the biggest shortcomings of the Jaakko-Poyry report was the lack of economic considerations, but that in replanting, for example, a planter can get 25 cents a tree in BC while in NB the pay is 7 cents per tree. He also thought there was a lack of analysis of the future use of paper, that to use all of our resources, not just pulp, we should be looking at value-added products, and by using all of our resources (types of trees) we should diversify and stabilize the forest industry.

Yvon Poitras, NB Forest Products Association talked about private woodlots, community forestry and 'misinformation' . Private woodlot owners, he understood, were concerned about doubling plantations (in 45 years time) would mean less demand for private wood. They are also concerned about price and delivery. In fact, NB Forest Products and woodlot owners are meeting tomorrow to discuss working together. From Mr. Poitras' perspective, we already have community forestry - workers from communities are on the land and in the mills - that every job in community forestry will mean one less job in industry (in fact, community forestry provides 3 jobs for every one in industry and 2x the revenue - for the community). Misinformation is being spread about 'teacher tours' or educational tours, that industry shows what they want you to see.

Matthew Betts, Greater Fundy Eco-System Research Group (GFERG) - their research asked the question 'can the Jaakko-Poyry report scenario maintain biodiversity?' The short answer is NO, Mr. Betts cited these reasons: 1) Planting and PCT levels too high 2) Amount of mature forest too low 3) Extensive management in special management zones will not protect fauna 4) Too much uncertainty in future to have 'binding' timber objectives
There were insufficient details and no references in the report.
Mr. Betts said there was little or no data for many parts of the scenario: new plantations and their structure for biodiversity, no data, plantations could have an effect on the landscape, much fragmentation (old growth surrounded by plantation) disrupts movement of some species, which makes it less likely they will survive over a long time. He noted that in Finland, the number of RED LISTED species due to forestry practices total 300.

R.A. Savidge, Ph.D., Forest and Environmental Management, UNB, began by saying that science is the pursuit of truth. He suggested that our present NB forestry model is managed like putting all our eggs in one basket, that when the basket is breaking we transfer as many eggs as we can, but that it is time to look for a new basket. He suggested that the J-P report uses some fundamental assumptions which he challenged. For example, the report states that NB yields are 1.8 m3 per hectare while Finland yields 2.5 m3 of wood per hectare. NB with a longer growing season should be able to grow more wood than Finland - Dr. Savidge then pointed out that in fact, Finland's growing season is close to 2 months longer than NB's, thereby the report has a fundamental misjudgment on growing potential of plantations. The J-P report devotes 2 pages to economic conditions. Dr. Savidge noted, citing the CI Bank of Commerce report that there is a glut of timber on the world market, that wood is growing faster in southern hemisphere faster than it can be harvested, but there are regional shortages and NB is one of these areas. He stated that Australia, New Zealand Chile and Asia can grow logs in 30 years while it takes 100 years to grown the same thing in NB. His opinion is that JDI's Black Brook's plantation is somewhat of an anomaly, given it was a hardwood stand, clearcut, leaving rich soil and on an incline which favoured growth. He suggested that there is an international demand for hardwoods and they should be reinstated along with shade tolerant species. Small business in NB has possibilities to grow but needs encouragement.

Fred Somerville, St. Anne-Nackawick Pulp Co. Ltd. said that the forest industry is at a crossroads, status quo is not an option. He recommended: a) we need a policy to include Crown lands and private lands b) need hardwood objectives for species quality c) Crown Lands need government commitment to silviculture d) Private woodlot owners - joint committee to discuss and approve objectives and investment in silviculture e) Timber and non-timber objectives should be equally balanced f) Need to experiment with fast-growing hardwoods and explore new and innovative ways to grow more wood

Lawrence Wuest, woodlot owner, wood craftsman and ecologist, Stanley, NB, contends that there are several defects in the Jaakko-Poyry report: the investment over 60 years of roughly 20 million annually in return for 350 to 550 jobs in silviculture puts in question the investment return on jobs - the history of the forest industry employment suggests not a high return in jobs. A second concern is over the prediction of the yield from doubling plantations on Crown land - neither DNRE nor industry has shown definitive scientific evidence to resolve this. A third objection is that the Annual Allowable Cut (AAC) take precedence over current standards to protect wildlife and water courses. A fourth concern is the establishment of assurances of a mythical target of wood supply, generated by the industry itself. At the heart of the wood supply dilemma, suggests Mr. Wuest, is the notion that we can 'cut' our way out of the problem. Comparing the efficiency of Sweden's ability to invest in itself and its workers, Mr. Wuest noted the high proportion of workers in silviculture but even higher proportion of workers in the joinery and board industries, along with furniture, joinery and flooring and asked can we learn from the Swedish experience? The government should appreciate the importance of maximizing employment rather than wood yield, and to assure the equitable and optimal distribution of benefits for all NBers. Mr. Wuest proposed an alternate vision of management: focus on generating employment, rigorously enforce the tracking system of Crown timber to insure survival of sawmills, tax incentives for proficiency of timber uses, focus on healthy communities and forest, position NB by using NB developed GIS technology to further design and implement a new vision. Above all, maintain primacy of habitat and other ecological constraints over AAC, install diversity and proficiency of forest use.

Brent Wilkins, M.L. Wilkins and Son, Ltd. Fredericton, owns a sawmill, one of 65 companies across the province. In the past 10 years, their AAC has been reduced to less than 2/3 of what they used to get. Theirs is an efficient modernized (6-7 million invested between 1992-1995) operation but wood shortages and rising overhead costs are contributing to poor return. They need a secure wood supply.

Simon Mitchell, forester, Falls Brook Centre, stated that government should take back control of the Crown lands and invest in New Brunswickers. We need to work together to secure the future of NBers. Presently, according to Statistics Canada, there are fewer than 3000 people working in the woods, which support an additional 17000 jobs through indirect employment opportunities (trucking, manufacturing). Mr. Mitchell asserted that a binding agreement to guarantee wood to mills from Crown land was not only fiscally unreasonable as well as irresponsible from the perspective of a government which is accountable to the people of NB. The Crown Lands and Forest Act (1982) states that "the Minister of Natural Resources (and Energy) has statutory responsibility to the people of NB…responsible for the development, utilizations, protection and integrated management of the resources of Crown Lands…" Offering options for a viable forest industry, Mr. Mitchell described how community forestry can be implemented as well as a variety of alternate tenure systems (presently held by the 6 licensees) which would offer increased jobs. Individual, Municipal, Aboriginal and co-tenure were described (see full text…). He suggested any or all of these tenure styles could be phased in, investing in local communities, pride and self-sufficiency for a legacy of strong communities and forests rather than wealthy anonymous shareholders.

Marieka Arnold, representing the Fredericton Nature Club, established in 1960, began by stating that the J-P report proposes changes to almost half of the Crown Lands. She suggested that we approach the issue inclusively, holding all values of consumptive and non-consumptive uses equally. The nature club is concerned with maintaining biodiversity of 30,000 species, with reducing hardwoods which currently are 32% of tree species, with harvesting softwood younger, with cutting in buffer zones, with maintaining the esthetic values of the forest. Climate change was not even discussed in the report. She recommended investment in value-added industry, decreased mechanization and putting people to work.

Charles Fournier, from the UNB Environmental Society and as a citizen of Saint John, grew up in a close relationship with the Irving corporation. He looked at the Jaakko-Poyry report in the context of globalization and trade, first mentioning that there are not enough trees to supply the mill capacity of NB. Before we drastically change our forests ecosystems, we should look at the world scenario. Finland, for example, sold its wood to the Soviet Union, before it collapsed, leaving many workers unemployed, but with lots of human capital, Finland turned its fortunes toward consultancies. In North America, we have lots of intellectual capital. Growth of capital goods sector in the late 80s and 90s was in southeast Asia (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia) where investments in pulp and paper doubled, now with 30% of world's production. IN Sumatra, Indonesia, trees for p&p have a gestation period of 8 years, while here in NB it takes 60 years for the same growth. We leave in uncertain times, there is a large volume of cheap labour in SE Asia. The U.S. is giving protectionist signals, indicating uncertain markets. He suggested we invest in value-added products, we have skilled wood workers already, that he would like to see 32 strong brand names on the world scale, in niche markets.

Michael Carr, from the UNB Environmental Society, is a Master's student in Policy Studies gave a presentation on Natural Capital, which are minerals, metals and other natural systems like forests, upon which our economies are based. We are presently destroying our natural capital and compromising the future values of the forest - natural capital has its limits - for example, the number of fish we can catch is no longer limited by the number of boats we can put out to sea but by the declining stocks - the same can be said for the forests and their declining productive capacity. We need to maximize our natural capital as it is the basis of our economic system here in NB. The precedent for plantations was set in Prussia in the 1860s where an old growth forest was was clearcut, then planted in Norway Spruce. The first cycle was productive but the 2nd harvest cycle growth declined as the soil capacity declined and the flora and fauna gradually disappeared, giving way to an unstable system and a new word entered the German vocabulary: walsterben - forest death. We must not liquidate our natural capital, asserted Mr. Carr - let us not confuse money for wealth. It is possible that the J-P report is fueled by the realisation of the pulp and paper companies that world markets are moving south and they will not be able to compete, that by implementing the recommendations of the report, they can maximize profits in the short term, as only 3% of Crown lands are truly protected, that special management zones are not in reality closed to eventual harvesting, they are merely limited to particular methods or certain time frames (one third of volume can be cut in buffer zones in 10 years).

Margo Sheppard, Nature Trust of NB explained that people donate land to the Nature Trust to preserve the land for all its values. Nature Trust has an awareness program, they work to maintain working forests, exacting conservation easements so as to use the land well. They have a forester on staff. Nature Trust recommends a) ensure special management zones continue to be protected - no more cutting in buffer zones b) bring in the fine filter strategies c) reject guaranteed wood supply notion.

Achille Maillet and Jean-Paul Savoie represented the Association francophone des municipalités du N-B and recommended: a) changes to the Crown Lands and Forest Act to establish go-management by licensees, sub-licensees as well as all parties with an interest in the forests: sawmills interests, First Nations, ecologists, woodlot owners, ecotourism, naturalists, ornithological people, etc. b) that DNRE enjoy and independence and lord it over the others c) that all regulations take into consideration all the other uses of the forest d) that we move toward value-added products.

Roberta Clowater, represented the NB Protected Areas Coalition and CPAWS - she stated that there is not enough ecological safety net to justify going ahead with doubling the area of plantations, there are not enough measures in place to maintain species. The J-P report offers no guarantee of employment apart from seasonal silviculture jobs. There is also no analysis of future trends in forest products market nor how changes will impact non-forest jobs. Most indicators point to value-added products and markets, which are not addressed in the J-P report. She cited the impressive agreement for the protection of 50% of the boreal forest across Canada, recently announced - parties including First nations and provincial governments , industry and citizens have agreed to - as an example of REAL PROGRESS - these lands will be worked, but conservation principles will be applied in the management of the boreal forest. Ms. Clowater proposed that the government initiate a real proposal and strategy to maintain ecological values for our Crown lands.