The Issue of Forest Exploitation

The issue of forest exploitation This summer, Mike will discover that there are many complex issues to be resolved in the regional territory of Abitibi. Forest exploitation is the main economic activity of this region; however, the main players involved in the industry don’t agree on how this magnificent resource should be used. Task 1: Using the summary sheet for this issue: 1. Identify the main players involved in the issue of forest exploitation and explain their points of view. 2. Identify one compromise that could satisfy all the players. 3. Give and justify your opinion on this issue. Task 2: Using the online drawing tool or drawing software: 1. Create a sketch that illustrates the issue of forest exploitation. Your sketch must contain the following elements: a. It must have a title b. It must have a legend c. It must illustrate the position of at least three of the main players 2. Complete your sketch with a personal statement that expresses your point of view on the issue of forest exploitation. The Players…. The people involved! Uncle Jake My poor Mike, you’re going to be working for the enemy! Seriously, I understand that people need paper and lumber, but I often have the impression that the big forestry companies take too much. Outfitter businesses like mine need the forest for all our activities; you can’t hunt and fish in the desert! When I’m out in a beautiful lake with tourists from Montréal, France or the U.S. who have paid big bucks for the privilege of being in nature, it’s hard for me to explain why the forestry companies have only left a narrow strip of trees around the lake with stumps on the other side! I know that logging and wood processing provide lots of jobs in the region, but tourism also creates jobs and not just mine! Hotels, restaurants, transportation companies and local businesses all rely on the money brought in by tourists when they come to visit our huge forests! A standing forest also brings in a lot of money! Le patron de la compagnie, Yvan Dutronc Welcome, planters, to camp 3 of Stump Trees Inc. For the next few weeks, you will be responsible for replanting large sectors that were cut down this winter. All this wood was sent to about 100 sawmills and wood-processing plants in the region. This means that more than 4000 jobs will be saved because of the work we do. Not to mention that our exports contribute to the Québec economy… In fact, without the jobs created by the forestry industry, many villages in this region would probably have to close… I don’t have to remind you of all the uses of wood. Whether we like it or not, it would be very difficult for our society to manage without wood or paper! The forestry industry is essential to the Québec economy. For those of you who have come from the big city with all kinds of preconceptions, you should know that it’s been a long time since the forest industry has engaged in clear-cutting! Out of respect for nature, we practise logging that protects regeneration and the soil. In fact, you don’t have to worry about the environment; all the trees we cut down are replanted! That’s why you’re here! Good luck with the black flies and the bears! And don’t forget that you are an important part of Québec’s forest economy! Fellow tree planter: Native Toby Awashish Why am I working as a tree planter? Because it’s a good way to make some decent money while working in nature. Here I’m in my element; my ancestors always lived in the forest and they knew how to exist in harmony with nature, thanks to the abundance of natural resources. Since the arrival of European settlers, however, First Nations people have been pushed farther and farther north in reserves, while the southern part of the province developed and urbanized. We’re lucky there’s any forest left in which to practise our traditional activities of hunting and fishing! I think it’s disrespectful of the government to give forestry companies the right to exploit the forests, when we have had to fight (and still do) to maintain our Aboriginal rights in forest territories. The Algonquin were here long before the Europeans arrived. The forests therefore belong to us too, don’t you think? Environmental activist: Milly Smith (Mike wakes up one morning to the sound of demonstrators chanting slogans and disrupting the work of the planters…) “TOGETHER, UNITED, WE’LL NEVER BE DEFEATED!” “DOWN WITH THE FORESTRY COMPANIES!” “SAVE OUR FORESTS, PROTECT NATURE!” Mike: Hey, I’m sorry to bother you, but I’m not sure I understand. What have you got against forestry companies? Milly: These companies overexploit our forests! They don’t follow logging and reforestation standards. All they’re interested in is making the most money, as fast as possible, without worrying about the environmental consequences of deforestation. Mike: What do you mean, without worrying about the consequences? We’re here, aren’t we, replanting thousands of trees…? Milly: That’s the problem right there. The forestry companies are cutting down smaller and smaller trees every year, replacing them with a single species and devastating sections of the boreal forest, which is part of our natural heritage! Mike: Yeah, OK, it’s true these companies are making big profits, but that’s because people need wood and paper products… They’re just responding to demand! Milly: Think for a few minutes about all the paper we use and then throw away, all the cardboard boxes, packaging, tissues, white paper… Couldn’t we use less and recycle more? That would mean fewer trees would need to be logged! Mike: So what is it you’re asking for, exactly? Milly: Simply this, that forests be managed sustainably while respecting the forest as a natural resource, as well as the people who need it to survive. The local population Letter to Amanda Potts 9 Bridge Avenue Metrotown, QC J4P 1L5 Dear Amanda, I’m just back from Amos, where I spent my day off with Toby, my tent mate. He knows the area well, since he comes from Pikogan, an Algonquin village just north of the city. For lunch, we sat at the counter of a quaint little restaurant and had poutine and spruce beer. Without letting on, we listened in on the conversations going on around us. Everybody was talking about the forestry company, the new governmental forestry regulations and the demonstrations staged by local environmental activists. People were getting pretty hot under the collar! There was a lot of concern about the many jobs provided by the forestry industry in the region. Several people argued that the governmental measures to reduce the quantity of wood the companies have the right to log are likely to have a terrible effect. The forestry companies may be forced to lay off many workers, lower wages or even close altogether. You must understand that, in this area, most people work in either the mining or the forestry industry… There’s not much other work available. However, there were a few people in the restaurant who defended the idea that the harvesting of our forests needs to be better managed. When a few workers supported the position of the forestry companies, one woman exclaimed, “Think about your children! What will their quality of life and their prospect for employment be like if the forest is not managed more sustainably? Will we have to shut down the whole region of Abitibi once there are no trees left to cut down?” When the restaurant owner joined in on the conversation, arguing that without the tourists who come to enjoy the forest, his business would go under, the debate got so heated we decided to leave, with our heads and bellies full… See you soon! Love, Mike The government: News bulletin heard on public radio Broadcast news of radio operator A.M.O.Sphere, on Thursday, June 30 Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! Yesterday, Mr. Jay Govern, the Québec Minister of Natural Resources and Wildlife, defended Bill 71, which imposes a 20% reduction on the annual allowable cut in Québec forests. The forestry industry and its workers are contesting the application of this law, which they claim will endanger the survival of some of the companies of the region. This policy follows the recommendations of the Coulombe Commission, which submitted an alarming report on the state of Québec forests in 2004. The government wished to illustrate its willingness to rectify this worrisome environmental situation, while allowing large companies to adjust to the changes required. Caught between a rock and a hard place, the government is thus trying to satisfy all the players involved in the exploitation of forests. The minister also announced the government’s plan to protect 8% of the forest territory over the next few years. On the federal scene, the Prime Minister of Canada… .

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