Forest cover loss will be topic of discussion in Avonmore this Thursday

The United Counties of Prescott-Russell and the United Counties of Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry have something troubling in common - both are losing forest cover at an alarming rate.

That's why a forest cover loss forum is being held at the community hall in Avonmore tomorrow, Thursday, February 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The forum is being sponsored by the Resource Stewardship Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry Council and the Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry Certified Forest Owners.

Agencies including Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, SD&G Counties, Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, Eastern Ontario Model Forest, and Canada Revenue Agency have been invited to attend.

There will be a listening panel to hear the ideas and suggestions put forward by individuals and stakeholders. The event is open to everyone.

Surveys conducted by local conservation authorities and others show that the current amount of forest cover in Stormont-Dundas-Glengarry is about 28 per cent and is declining at the rate of at least one per cent per decade.

The issue was raised at the United Counties of Prescott-Russell last year when Denis Pommainville, former mayor of The Nation, said he watched some 75 acres of forest disappear "almost overnight" in his municipality.

Pommainville urged regional mayors to take action to protect forest cover at that time.

Pommainville noted that, in order for an area to be considered "viable" for flora and fauna, it must contain a minimum of 30 per cent forest cover.

He said the counties has approximately 26 to 27 per cent forest cover and he, along with members of the Larose Forest Committee, want to make sure that number does not decline any further.

"Our forests are disappearing fast," he said. "We are facing a terrible and enormous problem and we, as the united counties, need to take a stand and protect what we have."

Pommainville said he became concerned after some 75 acres of forest "just disappeared" in the Nation.

"There were at least 200 vehicles coming in to take the wood away," he remarked. "I believe they ended up turning the wood into chips for use in the construction of Hwy. 50. It's a real shame."

Information and research complied by Environment Canada and outlined in a report called How Much Habitat is Enough?, proves Pommainville's concerns are quite valid.

The report suggests focusing on protection first, restoration second and maintaining what exists.

"It is most efficient and effective to maintain biodiversity by protecting existing wildlife habitat, which already supports wild populations," the report states. "Project planning should seek to ensure, above all else, that existing habitat is not lost."

The report states that 30 per cent forest cover is ideal to maintain a diverse population of flora and fauna and notes that, as the amount of forest habitat in an area declines, so does the number and percent of expected forest animal species within the range.

"We need to take a very strong political stance on this issue," Pommainville said. "Obviously, we don't want to go to the extreme so property owners can cut down a tree on their property, but this has to be managed properly. I have nothing against development, we are part of the process, but we can't have people cutting down acres and acres of forest. We're in for a huge catastrophe if we allow this to continue."

Champlain Township Mayor Gary Barton agreed with Pommainville and cited an area on McCrimmon Road where a number of trees had been cut down.

"There's a well-wooded area there and the trees were just gone, there was nothing left," he said. "I know the wood is being used, but it's still quite shocking to see."

Barton also pointed out there is a forested pathway that spans from the Quebec border to the Larose Forest which serves as a natural travel path for wildlife.

"We need to make sure that is protected," he remarked.

The forum will address the following questions: Why should a rural landowner keep a forest? What can we do to preserve forests? What support systems do government agencies at the federal, provincial and municipal levels offer to private woodlot owners?

For more information, please contact stewardship co-ordinator Jim Hendry at (613) 933-7671 or jim.hendry@ontario.ca.