Industry News News Forestry Management
FPAC: Forestry sector welcomes ministers’ efforts to promote importance of forestry

The Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) says it welcomes the public commitment from the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCFM) this week to raise awareness about Canada’s approach to sustainable forest management.

Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial forest ministers gathered virtually this week for the annual CCFM meeting to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Canada’s forest sector.

The Sept. 16 meeting was hosted by Northwest Territories Minister Shane Thompson, current chair of CCFM.

“Canada is a global leader in how we sustainably manage our working forests for cultural, recreational, health, environmental, and economic benefits,” says Derek Nighbor, president and CEO of FPAC. “Canada’s forest sector has an opportunity to do more to help drive an economic recovery that secures and grows good-paying jobs in communities that need them, and delivers innovative products that support human health and are good for the environment.

“We are pleased to see forest ministers from across the country take note of this opportunity – one that is even more critical in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

At the meeting, ministers also discussed the ongoing implementation of the Forest Bioeconomy Framework, the role that the forest bioeconomy can play in accelerating a post COVID-19 recovery, and expanding the mandate of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFCC).

The environmental reputation of the Canadian forest sector continues to be a key priority of the CCFM, according to the organization. During the meeting, ministers endorsed Canada’s Forests: Our Roots, Our Future, an informational report designed to raise awareness of how Canada’s sustainable forest management practices can help ensure its forests act as a natural solution to climate change and support the transition to a low-carbon society.

The report will be available to all CCFM jurisdictions to distribute and promote according to their needs.

At the end of the session, Thompson turned the CCFM chair position over to Manitoba, who will host the 2021 gathering.

The meeting was preceded by a virtual session of the Forum on the Forests where ministers discussed pressing issues facing the Canadian forest sector with Indigenous and industry representatives.

This included a panel discussion on best practices and opportunities to increase Indigenous participation in the forest sector, as well as the state of the sector in a second panel discussion with industry representatives.