Pommainville urges counties to take action to protect forest cover

After watching some 75 acres of forest disappear "almost overnight" in his municipality, The Nation Mayor Denis Pommainville is asking his fellow mayors to take action to protect forest cover in the counties.

At the counties committee of the whole meeting held on March 9, 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.

Currently, 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.

Pommainville said the Larose Forest Committee will be bringing forward a recommendation to county council later in March and feels local mayors should do everything they can to protect local forests.

"We need to take a very strong political stance on this issue," he 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 MacCrimmon 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.

Hawkesbury mayor Jeanne Charlebois did not appear to agree with the concerns being expressed and noted, "Now we're going to start telling people what they can do with their trees?"

It should be noted the City of Clarence-Rockland enacted a tree cutting bylaw in 2005 which prohibits the cutting of trees and clear-cutting in certain areas of the township. The bylaw was put in place in an effort to put a stop to the destruction of trees in the municipality.