Ducks Unlimited Canada and Forestry Leaders Launch Innovative Collaboration on Boreal Forest Wetland Conservation

Wetlands and waterfowl in Canada’s boreal forest will be the beneficiaries of a new program launched by Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC) and forestry sector leaders.

The partnership is a visionary approach to sharing knowledge and resources to advance sustainable forest management and wetland stewardship in the boreal forest, an area that offers one of the greatest conservation opportunities in the world.

Under the ‘Forest Management and Wetland Stewardship Initiative’, the partners will work collaboratively on priority projects that integrate wetland and waterfowl conservation into ongoing forest management planning and field operations. The coalition will establish wetland conservation guiding principles and best management practices. These will support companies in achieving their forest management objectives and help them meet the criteria for forest certification programs.

“We all benefit from the boreal forest and its network of wetlands,’’ says Kevin Smith, DUC national boreal programs manager. “Boreal wetlands filter the largest surface area of freshwater on the planet, trapping sediments and pollutants while supplying clean water for communities.”

Partners in the three-year initiative include Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc., Canfor, the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), Millar Western Forest Products Ltd., Tolko Industries Ltd., West Fraser and Weyerhaeuser Company.

“We are pleased to work with this important industry sector to strengthen wetland stewardship in this region,” added Smith. “By taking an innovative and collaborative approach, we will be able to achieve shared goals for a landscape that supports both a healthy economy and abundant wildlife habitat.”

“When it comes to conservation in the boreal forest, many hands can make positive change happen,” said Weyerhaeuser’s Canadian forest stewardship manager, Wendy Crosina, who was a strong advocate for the launch of the initiative.

“In a challenging economy, organizations have to think carefully about how to advance their commitment to environmental performance and achieve their goals with limited resources. By working together with DUC, the forestry sector partners can do more for the environment than each company working alone,” said Crosina. “It’s a win-win.”

“This collaborative commitment between Ducks Unlimited and our members is another positive step in ensuring that a healthy wildlife and economy can be achieved together,” added FPAC CEO, Derek Nighbor.
http://www.fpac.ca/ducks-unlimited-canada-and-forestry-leaders-launch-innovative-collaboration-on-boreal-forest-wetland-conservation/

Related Posts

Part 1: Businesses can change the course of climate change

As the world grapples with the climate crisis and biodiversity loss, it’s time for bold, decisive action. The private sector plays a crucial role in advancing sustainability, not only within their own operations but also through support for responsible forestry initiatives. In our "Unite in the Forest Fight" blog series, this is the first of three articles that unpacks the importance of forests in our collective efforts against the climate crisis and biodiversity loss. The climate crisis and biodiversity loss are intertwined crises that demand urgent attention. The temperature rises signifies more than just a number – it’s the line between manageable challenges and catastrophe. While we can mitigate some effects at various temperatures, crossing the 1.5°C threshold reveals a tipping point we’re beginning to experience. However, it's not about doom and gloom; it's about recognizing the power we hold to make positive change. The path to a sustainable future is within reach, and the private sector plays a significant role.

Good forestry is also good for the climate

As a way of thinking, sustainability is well suited to forestry, since forests have traditionally been seen as an asset that will benefit several generations. From a forest owner’s point of view, the most essential factor in climate change mitigation is ensuring that forests remain viable. “Making sure that forests are in a fit state to grow is key. When trees fall, the carbon that has been stored in them is released,” says Jyrki Kangas, Professor of Forest Bioeconomy at the University of Eastern Finland. The trees and soil in forests absorb carbon dioxide and act as carbon reservoirs. In principle, extending forest turnover times improves the carbon balance, but trees cannot be left to grow infinitely. The optimal time for harvesting, considering both forest productivity and the climate, is before tree growth begins to slow down and trees become more susceptible to damage. From the point of view of carbon binding, it is essential that forests produce wood as efficiently as possible. The faster a forest grows after a regeneration felling, the faster it will begin to store carbon.

Conservation Camp Celebrates Sustainable Forestry

When Bonny Skene attended Conservation Camp in 10th grade, she wasn’t looking for a career in forestry. “My parents always encouraged me to try new and different things, and Conservation Camp was definitely new and different,” she says. “I didn’t know much about forestry, although I grew up in a forest in Dryden, Ontario. But I attended the camp, and I really enjoyed it. I learned a lot.” Several years and two degrees later, the experience came full circle when Skene, now Domtar’s regional public affairs manager in Canada, started working at the Dryden Mill as an IT manager in 1996. “You just never know where an opportunity will lead you,” she says. “I wasn’t a kid who dreamed of being a forester or working in the industry. But the experience was helpful when I ended up in a forestry industry career.” Conservation Camp is led by Domtar’s Dryden Mill in partnership with Dryden High School and other Dryden community partners, including Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Dryden Forest Management, the Dryden Trappers Council, Brinkman Reforestation and Raleigh Falls Timber. Click Read More below for additional information.
Back To Top
×Close search
Search