LOCAL FORESTS FOR A HEALTHY CLIMATE |
|
Canadian Forest Owners (CFO) represents 450,000 forest landowners, large and small, who are committed to long-term sustainable forest management for a healthy climate and thriving communities. |
|
CFO Talks to Feds About Value of Private Forest Land |
|
Over two days, CFO met face-to-face with federal MPs, senators, deputy ministers, directors, and political advisors. The dialogue was focused on the important role private forest owners play in the Canadian economy and in helping Canada meet its climate change targets. These meetings were very productive, and our members’ concerns and solutions were well received.
CFO’s study, which is posted on our website, revealed that silviculture and wood manufacturing activities from private forests created 37,500 jobs and generated $13.9 billion in revenue coast to coast in 2020, reinforcing our members’ value at the table.
“We’ll be returning to Ottawa again in the Spring to continue elevating the economic, social and environmental importance of private forest owners from coast to coast,” states CEO Andrew de Vries.
|
|
Left: Molly Hudson, Mosaic Forest Management, Adam van Koeverden, MP for Milton, Manitoba, and Susannah Banks, CFO Chair.
Top: Jean-Pierre Martel, CFO Executive Director, Molly Hudson, Mosaic Forest Management, Susannah Banks, CFO Chair, Marc Serré, Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, MP for Nickel Belt, Ontario, and Vincent Miville, CFO Director.
Below: CFO Director Vincent Miville, Branden Leslie, MP for Portage-Lisgar, Manitoba, Susannah Banks, CFO Chair, Molly Hudson, Mosaic Forest Management, Jean-Pierre Martel, CFO Executive Director.
|
|
|
|
CFO Announces Leadership Change |
It is with a blend of sadness and pleasure that Canadian Forest Owners (CFO) is saying goodbye to Jean-Pierre Martel and welcoming Andrew de Vries as his successor, effective February 1, 2024. The appointment of Andrew de Vries as CFO’s Chief Executive Officer marks the retirement of Executive Director Jean-Pierre Martel, who has worked tirelessly over the past 2½ years to help raise awareness about the importance of private forest land in Canada.
Image: Andrew de Vries
|
|
|
PSSIP Legacy Policy for Woodlots |
|
Canadian Forest Owners continues to push for the Personal Savings and Silviculture Investment Plan’s (PSSIP) inclusion in the 2024 Federal Budget. This Plan calls for the averaging of income from the sale of wood at the federal level to correct the tax inequity suffered by private forestry producers.
“We are gaining traction because at every opportunity CFO continues to point out how the PSSIP will contribute to our government’s priorities to reduce carbon, manage biodiversity, plant 2 Billion Trees, and help manage wildfires,” says Susannah Banks, CFO Chair. “Its adoption is essential if Canada is to remain a world leader in sustainable forest management.”
To achieve success, CFO created an information campaign with letters, co-signed by CFO Chair and Vice-Chair, targeted at the Ministers of Finance, Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Rural Development, as well as the Canada Revenue Agency. Provincial woodlot associations also joined in this campaign by sending letters of support to these ministers as well as to their local MPs.
CFO will make its submission to Pre-Budget Consultations 2024 by the deadline of February 9.It’s not too late to show your support! Please visit our website for information on how you can support CFO’s campaign, or contact Andrew de Vries at 778-212-8825. |
|
|
 |
Forest Degradation
CFO is providing input to the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers on the definition of forest degradation. Every country needs its own regulation but the goal for Canada is not to reinvent the wheel.
“A lot of good forest management takes place on private and public lands that is tracked to ensure sustainability, which can be referenced to support Canada’s goals,” explains CFO Director John Pineau, Ontario Woodlot Association.
The Provinces have been provided with a list of indicators and are encouraged to meet with private and public land managers to test those indicators.
For more information, please contact Andrew de Vries at 778-212-8825.
|
|
|
|
Migratory Birds Regulations
Canadian Forest Owners is fully engaged in Canadian Wildlife Service’s consultation on amendments to the Migratory Birds Regulations. To address concerns about inclusion of the Pileated Woodpecker in the regulations, which could impair forestry on public and private forestlands, CFO has been working with a natural resources coalition to provide aligned input. The coalition includes Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Forest Products Association of Canada, WaterPower Canada, Electricity Canada and the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. However, despite efforts to fast track this amendment and avoid CWS’s temporary solution of dealing with this regulation on a case-to-case basis, CWS has announced no amendments to the regulations are expected before 2027. CFO will continue to communicate the need for a more balanced approach that meets the needs of these birds and rural economies, including mechanisms such as Incidental Take permits.
|
|
|
|
National Biodiversity Strategy |
|
In collaboration with the Forest Products Association of Canada, Canadian Forest Owners developed recommendations to contribute to achieving Canada’s national and global biodiversity goals, which were submitted in July 2023. The goal of Canada’s 2030 Biodiversity Strategy is to identify its biodiversity priorities over the next decade and support domestic implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. |
|
CFO Scholarship and Bursary Awards |
|
Canadian Forest Owners is developing a joint promotions strategy for the Peter deMarsh bursaries and the Christopher Lee scholarship to increase awareness about these awards and bolster their reach. The $2000 Christopher Lee award supports a worthy post-secondary student enrolled in a forestry-related discipline at a Canadian university, college, or technical school. Preference is given to students who excel in their field with a special interest in forest policy, advocacy and research as it relates to private forest lands in Canada. The Peter deMarsh Research Bursary has increased to $15,000 for a Canadian or international graduate student in the final stage of his/her doctoral or master’s-level research at a Canadian university. The research project must focus on the role of woodlot owners or woodlot owners’ associations in helping to solve social, economic, or environmental problems. In addition, a Travel Bursary of up to $3,000 is awarded to help representatives of woodlot owners associations in Canada or abroad participate in international conferences dealing with issues involving forest owners.
The deadline to apply is June 30, 2024.
|
|
Loïc Ales, Forest Sciences Graduate
Master’s student Loïc Ales has been awarded the 2023 Peter deMarsh research bursary for his studies, aimed at better understanding the behaviours of forest owners in the face of the legal regime for the conservation of natural environments in private forests. Loïc is enrolled in Forest Sciences at the Faculty of Forestry, Geography and Geomatic of Université Laval, under the supervision of Professor Maude Flamand-Hubert.
Image: Jean-Pierre Martel, CFO Executive Director, Nancy Gélinas, Dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Geography and Geomatics at Université Laval, Loïc Ales, award recipient, Maude Flamand-Hubert, Associate Professor, and Jean-Pierre Dansereau, scholarship selection committee.
|
|
Matthew Bezanson, Forest Technology
Maritime College of Forest Technology student Matthew Bezanson was awarded the 2023 Christopher Lee Memorial Scholarship, based on his academic performance and passion for sustainable forest management on private forest lands in Canada. Currently, Matthew is finishing his last year of a 2-year program and plans on continuing his education at the University of New Brunswick to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Forestry.
Image: CFO Chair Susannah Banks, Matthew Bezanson, scholarship recipient.
|
|
|
CFO Membership Dues Reminder |
|
We want to thank all our members for the valuable input you provide, which has helped shape Canadian Forest Owners’ vision and goals, and our commitment to sustainable forests management for a healthy climate and thriving communities. Your support is key to our continued success. Please look for CFO’s invoice in your inbox this month to bring your CFO membership dues up to date. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
