The New Democrat’s Lands and Forestry Critic is sounding the alarm on proposed wood harvests near a designated nature reserve.
Dunraven Bog in Queens County is near the Shelburne County border and consists of over 3,000 hectares of protected bog and surrounding forest.
WestFor Management Inc. has proposed harvesting on around 92 hectares next to the bog and around 62 next to an adjoining lake, using a uniform shelterwood technique.
MLA Lisa Roberts says the cuts aren’t in keeping with recommendations from Dr. William Lahey’s independent forestry review.
“We think either there should be a moratorium on cutting or they should be doing ecological forestry,” says Roberts.
Reducing clearcutting was also among the recommendations, with Lahey saying the management of crown land should lead the way for other foresters.
Roberts says there is an opportunity for government to start taking action, but she hasn’t seen it.
“There is an offer in the report to have continued engagement with the group of experts that advised Lahey on how to do this and right now, we’re not seeing the action,” she says.
There are over 300 hectares of proposed clearcuts currently up for comment in Queens County, according to the province’s Harvest Map Viewer.
Meanwhile, Lands and Forestry Minister Iain Rankin, says they have put some setback conditions on protected areas.
And they are looking at potential changes to setbacks near Dunraven Bog.
“Because these prescriptions were determined using our current process, they may not have that in place,” says Rankin.
Rankin says they are having discussions with crown licence holders on setbacks around wilderness areas, nature reserves, and national parks.
Besides the setbacks, he says the department has reduced WestFor’s harvesting allocation by 21 per cent as a part of the renewal of their temporary timber licence.
But Rankin believes there has to be balance between the forestry industry and protection.
The harvests near Dunraven Bog are open for public comment until October 29.
Story by Brittany Wentzell
Twitter: @BrittWentzell
Email: wentzell.brittany@radioabl.ca
