Consultation on Sustainable Forest Management in Québec
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Consultation on sustainable forest management in Québec Consultation paper Sustainable forest management strategy and Provisions proposed for the future regulation on sustainable forest management Consultation on sustainable forest management in Québec Consultation paper Sustainable forest management strategy and Provisions proposed for the future regulation on sustainable forest management For additional information, please contact: Direction des communications Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune 5700, 4e Avenue Ouest, C 409 Québec (Québec) G1H 6R1 Telephone : 418 627-8600 Elsewhere in Québec: 1 866 248-6936 Fax: 418 644-6513 [email protected] Cover photographs Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune Lower left: Pourvoirie Poulin de Courval, Roch Théroux This publication is available on the Internet at: www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca Ce document est également disponible en français. Legal Deposit – Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec, 2010 Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, 2010 ISBN 978-2-550-60087-9 (Printed version) ISBN 978-2-550-60088-6 (PDF) Code de diffusion : 2010-2007 © Gouvernement du Québec MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER In recent months, Québec has been pursuing a full-scale revision of its forest regime. This major ongoing process passed a crucial stage on March 23, 2010, when the Members of the National Assembly gave unanimous assent to the Sustainable Forest Development Act. This sent a clear message that our government is committed to taking charge of the management and conservation of Québec’s forest heritage to ensure as many benefits as possible for citizens and, in addition, to make Québec an international leader in sustainable forest management. The Sustainable Forest Development Act will replace the current Forest Act on April 1, 2013. Between now and then, the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune, with input from businesses and organizations, government departments, municipalities, Aboriginal communities and the general public, will take all the necessary steps to ensure that the management of Québec’s forests meets the highest possible standards of sustainability. The work is already well under way and I am pleased to invite you to take part in the public consultation process for two key components of the new forest regime: the sustainable forest management strategy and the proposed provisions for the future regulation on sustainable forest management. Consultation is a key stage in the development of both projects, since the general public will be asked to express its concerns and its opinions about the elements proposed, and will have an influence over the final product. The strategy and regulation will then be completed in time for the preparation of the integrated forest management plans required for the years 2013 to 2018. This public consultation is important, given the issues addressed by the strategy and future regulation. As a result, I will examine the comments and recommendations made by all participants with attention. I will make my decisions with the preamble to the Sustainable Forest Development Act in mind, making sure that our forests continue to be a source of pride, retain the full range of their ecosystems and landscapes, help counteract climate change and meet the economic, social, environmental and cultural needs of Québec. I urge everyone to take part in the consultation process! Nathalie Normandeau Deputy Premier, minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife and minister responsible for the Northern Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1. Description of the public consultation process ................. 1 Participation in the public consultation ............................................................................1 A dual public consultation process to ensure a coherent approach to sustainable forest management ...................................................................................................... 1 A process that contributes toward sustainable development .......................................... 3 Overview of the two documents ..................................................................................... 4 The MRNF: committed to a transparent process ............................................................ 5 Section 2. Sustainable forest management strategy ......................... 7 A vision for sustainable forest management ................................................................... 9 Five challenges to progress towards sustainable forest management.......................... 10 Challenge: Take the interests, values and needs of the Québec population and Aboriginal nations into account in managing the forests .................................. 10 Challenge: Use forest management practices that ensure ecosystem sustainability .......... 14 Challenge: Ensure a productive forest that generates wealth at different levels ................. 21 Challenge: Promote diversified, competitive and innovative wood products and forestry industries ........................................................................................... 28 Challenge: Ensure that forests and the forest sector help fight and adapt to climate change ............................................................................................ 31 Implementation and governance .................................................................................. 34 Conclusion ― A strategy to promote progress ............................................................. 37 Table. Overview of the challenges, orientations and objectives of the sustainable forest management strategy ............................................................................. 38 Section 3. Provisions proposed for the future regulation on sustainable forest management ................................... 41 Principles underlying the preparation and implementation of the future regulation on sustainable forest management ............................................................................ 41 RSFM provisions maintained and removed ................................................................. 44 Improvements and additions ....................................................................................... 46 Theme 1. Sites and sectors of interest to the Aboriginal people ......................................... 47 Theme 2. Structured areas ................................................................................................. 50 Theme 3. Recreotourism and public utility sites and sectors .............................................. 53 Theme 4. Wildlife habitats .................................................................................................. 58 Theme 5. Aquatic, riparian and wetland environments ....................................................... 63 Theme 6. Multi-purpose roads and other forest infrastructures .......................................... 71 Theme 7. Optimum wood harvesting, forest regeneration and soil protection .................. 87 Theme 8 Spatial patterns and temporal distribution of forest management activities and residual forests ............................................................................................ 91 Appendix. Provisions of the RSFM that would be maintained in the future regulation on sustainable forest management ............................................................................. 96 Section 4. Questions for the consultation ............................................. 99 List of abbreviations ........................................................................................................... 100 Glossary ............................................................................................................................ 101 Section 1. Description of the public consultation process Participation in the public consultation Participation by the general public is an important component of sustainable forest SECTION 1 SECTION management (SFM), allowing the population to express its opinions and influence the forest management process. The public consultations for the sustainable forest management strategy (SFMS) and the proposed provisions for the future regulation on sustainable forest management (referred to here as the “future regulation”) are both important actions undertaken by the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune (MRNF) to demonstrate its commitment to SFM and to establish a dialogue with the general public. To take part in the consultation process and make your views known, you can use the on-line form available at www.consultation-adf.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca, which contains questions linked to the various themes developed in the SFMS and the future regulation. You must return the E-form by January 28, 2011. You can also forward comments on the questions submitted (p. 99) by E-mail or by regular mail to the regional conference of elected officers (conférence régionale des élus, or CRÉ) in your region by January 28, 2011. In addition, you can attend one of the information sessions organized in all regions of Québec by the CRÉ, with support from the MRNF general regional offices. To find out the date and venue for each meeting, contact your regional conference of elected officers or go to the MRNF website at www.consultation-adf.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca. A dual public consultation process to ensure a coherent approach to sustainable forest management The sustainable forest management strategy and regulation have been