Comparison Of Forest Policies In Ontario And British Columbia Essay.

Compare forest policy in Ontario with forest policy in British Columbia.

Consider:
a. Complexity
b. Major difference
c. Public; participation in Ontario (local citizens committees.)
 

Complexity

The forest law policies of Ontario provide ways for the sustainable management and use of Crown forests. The policies mainly cover all the products of forest woodlands operations in Ontario. The evolution of forest policy in Ontario began in the year 1867. The laws and policies ensure that the forests remain healthy and it must continue providing benefits to the current and future generations. Majority of the Ontario forests are publicly owned and known as Crown lands. The Crown Forest Sustainability Act sketches on how the forest management and agreements should be planned, information management, operations of the forest and regulation of independent forest audits. The forest management activities within the area are needed to be managed sustainably by law. Therefore, the policies are framed for creating sustainable forests in the province. Sustainable forest management exists to help the forests of Ontario to remain proper in the present as well as in the future. The forested lands are put to use for the protection and sustainability of the Crown forest sustainability act. Private forests generally make up 9% of Ontario’s forested lands. The government of Ontario persuades responsible forest management of these private forests through information. Progress of forest policy development can be achieved if the three principle areas are fulfilled. British Columbia is on the western coast of Canada. It is referred to as one of Canada’s most ecologically and biologically province of diversity. Forest policies are a set of principles of activities that are adopted by the government to guide the management. Forest policy is essential in British Columbia since it has a direct impact on the ability of the society to meet the economic, social and environmental objectives and goals. Forests policies of British Columbia can be implemented with the help of instruments like contracts, acts, regulations and administration documents. Forest policies have been changing with the passing new amendments. Along with it the objectives of the governments have also been updated. The forest industry of British Columbia includes the largest and most important segment of the industrial economy. These forest policies recognize the importance of the industry to the provincial economy. The industrial structure is important for the sustainability of the forest. The relationship with the government and forest stakeholders is to maintain both the efficiency and the integrity of the British Columbia’s framework for forest management. The policies also include the developments of the nature, climate and environment.  Legislation and regulations have been passed for the sustainability and development of the forest. 

Major difference

Maximum of the jurisdiction regulates harvest levels to a certain level to make sure that sustainability remains in the long term. In British Columbia, majority of the lands are publicly owned and the Canadian Province establishes the annual cut for the provincial lands through a transparent process. Due to the legislative requirements, the certification standards can rely on. On the other hand, the management system of Ontario does not transfer the ownership of the forests to any companies. Instead, the companies are given the rights to chop down the trees in the areas, which have license and takes the responsibility of developing the Forest Management Plans. Therefore, the companies successfully rent the lands in Ontario and it is their duty to maintain it as a healthy forest ecosystem. Secondly, reforestation is a process where the rules are strict in both the certification and legislation. In British Columbia, the legislation puts defined timelines to restore the areas that are harvested with ecologically, native species and the standards of certification that can bank on the legislation. Artificial reforestation that is allowed and accepted in British Columbia is the plantation of bare root stock. For reforestation in British Columbia, the policy is to acquire control of the private forestland and to ensure the productivity and proper management. The province has the right to guide and direct which areas can be reforested by planting. It had declared of a policy of planting 75 million trees yearly on the private lands. Whereas, the policy of Ontario focuses on private land and waters that are provided by the Crown. The basic purpose of the policies of Ontario is to grant from the Crown an optimum contribution of the natural renewable sources. Thirdly, there are different policies on clear cutting. Clear cutting is generally recognized as legitimate silvicultural practices that are biologically inappropriate. In British Columbia, the legislation measures and edges the size to 40 hectares in coastal regions. The rules and regulation administers the visual impact of the harvest. The certification standard allows clear cutting and it is mainly relied on the legislation for special circumstances. In Ontario, clear cutting is used as the basic method of extraction that is being used by the forest operations.  

The government of Ontario stated that the clear cuts should not exceed 260 hectares. The forestry companies of Ontario wish the process of clear cutting since it is the most competent and cheapest way of timber harvesting. This process of clear cutting in Ontario helps the forest operators to achieve most out of the forests for the lowest cost. Fourthly, maximum jurisdictions use the permanent switch of forests land to urban development or agriculture. Forest managers evaluate the impact on the nature and seek permission to alter the forest into non-forest uses. In British Columbia, the government can alter land into other uses where it is deemed to be in the best interest of economic, environmental and social. The holders of forest tenure have no power or capability to transfer forest lands to other uses. The certification allows the process of conversion under the conditions with compatible legal requirements. On the other hand, Ontario uses a pack of 7 criteria and 63 indicators, which was adopted from international and national systems. The changes in land use that increases or decreases the forest area can affect the carbon containing in the forests of Ontario. Conversion here refers to the change in land use from forest to non-forest. In Ontario, the lands are converted to forests through afforestation. It increases the capability of those lands for storing carbon in soils and trees. The forests of Ontario were deforested for the construction of permanent access to forest roads. Fifthly, plantation forestry is regulated with the help of forest legislation in all the countries to figure out the environmental and technical provisions for plantations. British Columbia does not allow exotic species in industrial plantations. Whereas, the Ontario government decided on planting 50 million trees to contribute to increase the forest cover of Ontario. In Ontario the reason for planting plenty of trees are that it will improve the quality of soil, increase the wildlife habitat and improve the overall health of the environment. Sixthly, there are differences on forest health and productivity management between British Columbia and Ontario. All the jurisdictions consider forest health as a great concern and regulations provide important authority to the government agencies. These agencies thereafter take actions to prevent natural disturbances of pests and diseases. In British Columbia, the legislation puts out strict provisions for the health management ecosystem with preventive measures for reducing the risk of forest fires. Additional requirements are not set by the certification standards. On the other hand, in Ontario the best management practices for maintaining the forest health are planning, harvesting, roads and water crossing, site preparation, regeneration, thinning and tending. The purpose for managing the productivity and forest health is to maintain production and wood supply. For the forest productivity, management practices are intended to maintain the environmental values, health and biodiversity of the forest. Seventhly, illegal logging avoidance varies in Ontario and British Columbia. In the jurisdiction of Canada illegal logging is not an issue. However, regular monitoring and audits help to reduce or decrease the possibility of the risk of illegal logging on certified lands. In British Columbia, the officials are appointed to take care and supervise the acts of the forests for preventing illegal logging. British Columbia sets necessary provisions that forbid illegal logging. Whereas, in Ontario three forest certification systems exist that are put to use. The certification systems are voluntary, can be applied to private or public lands, have optional product labels and can strive to be relevant. Forest management certification needs a forest manager for an independent verification in Ontario. Chain of custody is an accounting process that keeps a record and verifies the production of a product of forest. Forest management certification in Ontario is complemented by a series of custody certification. 

Clear cutting policies

There are jurisdictions on endangered species management. Therefore, all the jurisdictions have lists of endangered species and set constraint for their protection. The management must plan for protecting the endangered species. As per the law of British Columbia, conservation of habitat for all the species listed in the Canadian law who are at risk including the other species of importance. The standards of British Columbia are implying the protection and identification of endangered species which the management should include in the plans of the management. On the other hand, in Ontario the endangered species are protected by following the Endangered Species Act. Management plan or recovery strategies should be adopted to ensure the healthy number of endangered species. The Ministry of Forestry and Natural Resources associated agencies that are expert enough on the species and can establish recovery strategies and management plans. Water quality management plays a significant role in the sustainability of the forests in Canada. Legal requirements are needed to maintain the quantity and quality and the actions that has adverse effect of water resources. In British Columbia, the provisional legislation preserves the quality of water, plant habitat, wildlife habitat and biodiversity. The certification standards accept legal requirements as a baseline. On the other hand, in Ontario indicator importance is given to the aquatic organisms. Harvesting the forests affects the water quality by altering the forest cover near the water crossings along forest access roads. Therefore, this leads to increase in the water temperatures, loading of nutrients and the number of organic material in the stream water. Ontario supervises fulfillment with the forest management guidelines for the protection of water quality and fish habitat to reduce the effects of forest management practices on the water resources in the forests of Ontario. Then comes old growth management and special sites of the forest. The old growth is governed by the regulations related in protecting the biodiversity and areas. The certification standards frequently go beyond the legal requirements. In British Columbia, the areas of old-growth management are determined under the legislation that should be attended in the forest management plans. The legislation of British Columbia sets the baseline for the level of performance that is used by all certification standards in the province. Whereas, policy developers will use the old growth policy of Ontario, resource managers, specialists to direct the decisions about future old growth conditions of the forest. Particularly during the use of land and forest management planning processes. It values the major tree species and the associations of the forest community. In Ontario, the old growth policy comprises a strategy conversation that defines how the MNR provides for the conservation of old growth across the landscapes. Restrictions are made for using genetically modified organisms in British Columbia. The jurisdiction releases genetically altered material that is subjected to the environmental impact, licensing and risk assessment. The legislation regulates all tree seeds that are used for reforestation in Columbia. The registration and usage of genetically modified seed is banned. On the other hand, Canada is considered as the third largest producer of the genetically modified organisms in the world. It regulates those products that are delivered from the process of biotechnology as a part of the existing regulatory framework. Ontario is commanded to assess the proper safety foods that are consumed by humans including the genetically modified organisms for authorizing them to be sold in Ontario. In British Columbia, management of chemical use in forestry is for combating pests and fertilizing stands. The Federal Legislation regulates the approval of the pesticides and the law regulates the use in British Columbia. The laws needs to use an integrated approach in managing pests that includes use of chemical when required. Whereas, in Ontario the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has programs and initiatives that assist to keep the forest ministry competitive. Usage of chemical in forestry also promotes investment and innovation in the sector of Ontario. Another major difference between the policies of British Columbia and Ontario is public participation and first nations input. As per some jurisdictions, involvement of public for state and other public forests are required. Plenty of the certification standards highlight the significance of the public participation and rights. In British Columbia, the legislation plans for harvestation of the public land is required so that it can be advertised for the review of the public. The certification standards entail local community and involvement of first nations. On the other hand, public participation in Ontario has developed a lot in the last few years but still plenty of issues have been resolved. Many jurisdictions depend upon the level of operational involvement of the public. However, immense consideration should be given to the involvement of public at the levels of planning. Therefore, these were the major differences of the forest policies between Ontario and British Columbia. 

Forests land conversion policies

There are local citizens committees in Ontario that exercises their rights and responsibilities for assisting with the management of forest resources. It is about the satisfaction of the individuals participating in processes that are related to the management of forest. This is critically essential for an effective management. For developing the public participation in Ontario, it is fair and can contain a variety of interests in forest management. The local citizens participate formally in the planning process of the forest management. The feedback from the members of the committees presents significant insights into the success and effectiveness of public participation in the management of forest planning. Therefore, involvement of the public is a fundamental part of the sustainable forest management in Ontario. The local citizens also participate in the process of decision making through the committees. However, local citizen’s committees are assigned to prepare the forest management plans throughout the areas. Generally, these local committees comprise of the people who resides and work in that area. They might also have a direct local interest in the plan. By participating in the discussions, the committees manipulate the development of the forest plans. The public are given an opportunity of reviewing and commenting on the implementation and development of the plan.

The approaches of British Columbia and Ontario for the certification of forest have been combined with rigid and evolving regulations by making the province a preferred supplier of the forest products and sustainability. The best managed forests in the world are present in British Columbia. 

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