Greenpeace’s Vision for a New Conservation Based Forest Economy in Canada’s Boreal Forest
The vision, which will lead to a new era of forest sustainability and industry and government accountability, couldn't come at a better time.
Wasteful industrial practices and weak government regulation have allowed forests to be destroyed for far too long. As a result, our forests and those who rely on them are fighting to survive.
Just last week, 2,500 forestry workers marched on Parliament Hill demanding federal action to save their dying industry.
Through the Greenpeace vision, the forest industry, political leaders, and forest communities could build a sustainable forest economy and ensure that our children inherit forests that are healthy and intact.
A conservation-based forest economy
In a conservation-based forest economy:
- Forests are valued for their beauty, respected as homes for endangered wildlife and appreciated for providing clean air and water, as well as helping to mitigate climate change;
- The forest industry diversifies its product lines and follows the market trends away from wasteful production.
- A new era of competitive business complies strictly with Forest Stewardship Council Certification (FSC) to help ensure that industrial practices protect the fragile biodiversity in our forests both now and in the future;
- Politicians and communities work together to ensure that those who are directly affected by the health of our forests have the greatest stake in their ownership.
With a conservation-based forest economy in place, the forest industry will restructure (long overdue) in Canada so it works in the most efficient, effective, and above all sustainable ways.
The need for a new forest economy now
Long before the current, global economic downturn, forestry-dependent communities were losing jobs and seeing mills close. Since 2003, more than 200 saw and paper mills have closed across Canada resulting in more than 32,000 workers losing jobs.
Workers are unable to support their families, access proper benefits, or unemployment insurance, because their industry was not built to last.
The road to a new forest economy
Industry leaders will need to rethink their relationship to the forests that keep their businesses afloat and surrounding communities alive.
They will need to:
• become more efficient,
• diversity with value-added products,
• become greener in their operations.
Consumer demand for green, clean and sustainable products grows louder every day. Companies that are going green are flourishing. Those that are not are failing.
Government leaders will need to be bolder and more direct in their actions to protect our forests.
They will have to invest in the future of the forest sector.
Consumers will have to keep industry and governments on track.
Communities will have to develop community forests so they can make decisions about their forest environment and their economies.