People on Canada's West Coast have earned bragging rights when it comes to taking the lead on green issues.
But New Brunswickers, on our nation's East Coast, clearly care about ensuring that the environment is a top priority; a majority believe that current forestry practices are causing long-term damage to the environment, according to a government-commissioned survey (CBC News). The survey also showed that most respondents think the economic benefits of forestry do not outweigh the environmental damage done by industry.
They're definitely on to something. Timber companies in Canada are using technology to make it easier to chop down trees and process the logs. But sustainable forestry management is still lagging, with many operations simply using variations on the clearcutting theme.
As it happens, the David Suzuki Foundation has developed principles for sustainable forestry on the B.C. coast using ecosystem-based management. Forestry companies across Canada really need to keep paying attention to sustainable practices. After all, it's essential to promoting a sustainable economy.
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Jonathon Narvey is Principal consultant at WRITEIMAGE
He blogs about politics and life in Vancouver at Currents
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lora bruncke
I used to be a scaler on Lake Williston years ago, and it's sad seeing the forests with no trees!
Forestry is dying along with conifers. What can we do? GROW HEMP!
Since the beginning of time it has been man's favourite plant. He made a mistake and made it illegal recently.
Time to correct that.
Lets seed the hills with it and use it for industry again.
The EFA's from hemp hearts and will make us healthy. Throw in some maple and maybe we can get start making our own syrup.
And speaking about hills, we have lots here surrounding Summerland. Lets use them for wind mills and solar paneling.
Maybe we can recycle killer plastic into raw materials for green energy!
We have the power.
We have the technology.
Do we have the players?
J Stog
Need to teach David Suzuki about Forest Health. Saving a diseased tree just because its old doesn't make sense.
A big diseased tree wiped out a large portion on Susuki's house on Quadra island this past winter
Eco based land management/legislation is over 100 year old in Austria.
Property owners are required to remove diseased trees so it doesn't spread.
Ecosystem-based management Principals? Are they sound or hollow like Suzuki's own tree?
Low impact Sustainable forestry in which 85-90% of the forest was left standing has been wiped out by over funded environmentalists where i live on Cortes Island. EcoSystem based Forest lands are now being converted to vast Deforested areas for monster housing to profit the some of the same environmentalists.
Local resource workers are the losers as they don't live on a global income from elsewhere.
Sustainable economy? For Whom?