Conservation agreement won't hurt forest industry

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Map:  The neon green areas will be affected by the new conservation agreement - Submitted

By Dwight Ford

Environmentalists and logging companies have reached what's being called the world's largest conservation agreement that goes to the protection of northern forests in B-C, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario.

The agreement comes after three years of negotiations between 21 companies and nine environmental organizations. The area affected in this region is mainly in Fort Nelson and around Peace River Alberta.

 

According to Canfor's Dave Lefebvre, this agreement won't have a negative effect on his company's operations.

Under the agreement, environmental groups which have been trying to lobby the public and paper suppliers, such as Staples and Office Depot, to not buy Canadian paper, agree to end their boycott campaign.

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As for forest companies they will suspend new logging for three years on the land in question, while a plan is developed to protect endangered Caribou.

With the new agreement Canfor still believes it will be able to re-start its operations in Fort Nelson, once the forest market sees an improvement.