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Call made to complete the Protected Areas Network

January 28, 2003 - Chronicle Herald

The recent keynote address by Patrick Moore, a former Greenpeace leader turned forest industry promoter, at the Forest Products Association AGM certainly created quite a stir. Of course, how could it not? Mr. Moore is a one-man walking controversy all by himself. His former colleagues in Greenpeace and most other environmental organizations disavow him completely, criticizing him as an "eco-Judas", a sell-out to the forestry industry.

But love him or hate him, his appearance in Halifax certainly gave both sides of the forestry debate in Nova Scotia something to chew on. And that, in itself, was useful.

The forestry industry in Nova Scotia is currently involved in a major PR campaign to improve its image. Mr. Moore's appearance at the annual foresters' meeting was a key component of that effort. He's certainly a colorful character and he challenged both foresters and environmentalists alike in his presentation. Although environmentalists strongly disagreed with his way-too generalized "clearcutting is good" message, they certainly welcomed his strong support for protected wilderness areas, special places that are set aside from industry. He also spoke of the responsibility of industry to do its part to make that happen. Indeed it was interesting that much of the FPANS conference revolved around the central issues of conservation, biodiversity and sustainability.

The Ecology Action Centre, the Public Lands Coalition and a majority of Nova Scotians remain deeply concerned with the state of our forests, the amount of clearcutting taking place and the rate at which we are loosing our original Acadian Forest. We would now hope to see substantive actions to back up the talk - including a significant and rapid reduction in clearcut logging and clear support by industry for the completion Nova Scotia's overdue Protected Areas Network.

In 1992 the provincial government committed to protecting wilderness lands in each of Nova Scotia's 80 natural landscapes by the year 2000. This was Nova Scotia's part of an international commitment made by Canada at the Rio Earth Summit. In Nova Scotia, we've missed the mark by 3 years and are going nowhere fast towards finishing the job. If the industry wants to improve its image, here is an excellent opportunity to do so.

Is it possible for both sides in the forestry debate to work more cooperatively on this? Perhaps, but we're still a long way off. Environmentalists and other stakeholders are willing to work with government and industry members who want to seriously work towards resolving these issues. But government and industry must now also take concrete steps towards quickly selecting and designating new protected wilderness areas while they still exist. In the year 2003 we have very little original, intact wilderness left to choose from. So if it is to be done, we must save the best of what is left - now, before our options run out. And that includes the use of Crown land to do this. Many in the industry says no, that Crown land is part of their future wood supply, and besides, they already have the cutting rights so

But Crown land is public land - it belongs to us all, equally. It belongs to every man, woman and child in Nova Scotia. The forest industry is an important stakeholder, of course. But so is everyone else. The tourism industry has a big stake here. So do hunters and anglers and naturalists and hikers and birders and skiers and scientists and canoeists and the list goes on, eventually ending at our great-grandchildren.

Land easements and donations of private land for conservation will certainly need to be an important part of the picture. But it's not going to enough by itself. The industry needs to recognize that the traditional view that all trees on Crown lands must be available for harvest is outdated and no longer an acceptable excuse to block protected areas of Crown land. Simply put, industry has to learn to share. It is, after all, ours too.

What we need then is to find the balance so often referred to by government and industry but all too rarely delivered. On this point both government and industry must demonstrate real leadership and a genuine willingness to work with the public and other stakeholders. These other stakeholder groups and individuals reflect other, legitimate values in society regarding the best use of our forests and public lands. It's time that room was made at the table for them and it's time they had a say in the decisions that are made in their name. And as the members of the Forest Products Association of Nova Scotia heard at their AGM, they too have an important role and a real responsibility to meaningful wilderness protection.

It's time for all parties to come together now and make this happen. It's time to complete the Protected Areas Network.

Raymond Plourde is the Wilderness Coordinator at Nova Scotia's Ecology Action Centre and a member of the Nova Scotia Public Lands Coalition (www.publicland.ca).