Derek Nighbor, President and CEO of the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) issued the following statement regarding the Wildlands League report on forest practices:
Canada is an undisputed global leader in sustainable forest management. For more than 100 years, the forest sector has played a fundamental role in Canada’s economy. Forests are part of our history, our geography, our homes, and our transportation.
Today, the sector is in the midst of a transformation that is bringing forward innovative new products, diversified markets, enhanced environmental credentials, and a skilled workforce.
A key role we are playing in fighting climate change is using wood products as alternatives to higher carbon intensive products such as cement and single use plastics.
Regretfully, this report overlooks the innovative, sustainable and inclusive nature of Canada’s forest sector in the 21st century, and it does not acknowledge the positive solutions-based role we’re playing across the board
Wildlands League purposely exaggerates the impacts of forestry. The report focuses on practices from 30 years ago in a single region and extrapolates them to all of Canada. In fact, road areas and non-regenerated landings are significantly lower today. The report is also somewhat biased since areas where roads are replanted into forests are obviously not accessible by truck.
Over the last several decades, industry practices have evolved considerably and have contributed to minimizing the loss in productive forest areas. The forest industry has a strong interest in maintaining healthy and resilient forests for the future. Moreover, continuously improving our forest practices is at the very core of our commitment to remove 30 megatonnes (MT) of CO2 per year by 2030.
Canada’s forest sector was one of the first to commit to climate action, and we are proud of the leading role we’re playing in helping to fight climate change, promoting the highest standards of conservation and showing that robust environmental stewardship and economic prosperity go hand in hand.
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FPAC provides a voice for Canada’s wood, pulp, and paper producers nationally and internationally in government, trade, and environmental affairs. The $73.6-billion-a-year forest products industry represents 12 per cent of Canada’s manufacturing GDP and is one of Canada’s largest employers operating in over 600 communities, providing 230,000 direct jobs, and over 600,000 indirect jobs across the country.
For more information:
Kerry Patterson-Baker
Vice President, Communications
t: 613-563-1441 ext. 314
Follow us on Twitter: @FPAC_APFC
