Environmental Protection

In the past few years, Quebec has adopted several concrete measures to protect its forest environment. In so doing, it has taken into account the ever growing concerns of those who use and manage our forests, and the many resources they contain.

Since 1982, the Quebec government has conducted several impact studies that were subsequently the object of public hearings. These hearings were, in particular, concerned with the protection of forests against diseases and insect epidemics and with the removal of competing vegetation from areas of forest regeneration. These endeavors have shown us that the fight against insects, diseases and competing species must be part of a preventive approach and that pesticides must be used only as a last resort. As a result, Quebec has committed itself to discontinuing its use of chemical insecticides and phytocides in the forest environment, as of the year 2001.

Several new regulations now provide increased environmental protection. Clear-cutting has been replaced by cutting with regeneration and soil protection, and the building of forest roads is subject to strict rules so as to ensure the integrity of watercourses. In addition, pulp and paper producers have had to resort to non-polluting bleaching processes and have modified their waste management processes in order to decrease the quantity of waste produced, in particular by recycling. Companies are making such a good effort to fulfil these responsibilities that they insist that their products receive environmental certification.

PROTECTION STRATEGY AND BIODIVERSITY

In 1996, the government of Quebec, which adheres to the principles of sustainable development, adopted a strategy for the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and published the Report on the Biodiversity of the Forest Environment. This document provides a detailed portrait of the situation and includes precise commitments aimed at better protecting fragile and exceptional sites, increasing our knowledge of forests, implementing the Forest protection strategy and developing a method to help maintain the biodiversity of our forest landscapes.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT -  CRITERIA AND INDICATORS

The concept of sustainable development does not only cover economic and social issues, but also those regarding the protection of the environment and the conservation of natural resources. Its main objective is to improve the quality of life of human communities while respecting the production capacities of ecosystems.

Despite the undeniable progress that it has made in this area, Quebec must strive for greater integration of industrial, economic and social development objectives with those of environmental protection. This will be achieved by adopting a management framework conducive to sustainable forest development and by inviting more partners to play a greater role in developing forest resources.

To ensure harmony between its approach and those of the other Canadian provinces, Quebec has adopted the sustainable development criteria outlined by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers. These criteria cover most of the points considered by the member countries of the Montreal Process, namely: 

1. the conservation of biological diversity;
2. the maintenance and improvement of the state and productivity of forest ecosystems;
3. the protection of soil and water;
4. the preservation of the contribution made by forest ecosystems to planetary ecological cycles;
5. the conservation of the many benefits that our society derives from the forest;
6. the consideration of the values and needs of local populations when making development choices.

 However, Quebec insists on developing its own indicators that will enable it to measure progress made with respect to these six sustainable development criteria. Moreover, it expects to implement a monitoring program focusing on environmental, economic and social components soon. This program should not only enable us to improve our policies, programs and practices, but also to inform the population about endeavors to improve forest management and to optimize the benefits derived from all forest resources.

LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS

Several laws and regulations, such as the Forest Act, the Environment Quality Act and the Act Respecting the Conservation and Development of Wildlife, are aimed at protecting the forest environment in Quebec.

Moreover, the forest system established following the adoption of the Forest Act in 1986, calls for a development based on the sustained yield of ligneous matter and the multiple use of the forest environment. Since 1996, this Act includes a provision which encourages sustainable forest development.

In keeping with the Forest Act, companies must plan their forest operations and make their five-year management plans available to the public for consultation. Moreover, the Regulation Respecting Standards of Forest Management for Forests in the Public Domain required them to protect the other resources of the forest environment, including watercourses, wildlife, fragile environments, hunting and fishing areas, public-interest sites and recreation areas.

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Projects involving Quebec forests increasingly undergo environmental assessments before being approved. These assessments ensure respect for the forest environment which is an essential element for sustainable development. Some of these projects are even subjected to impact studies.

ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING

The use of products such as pesticides, fertilizers and sewage sludge in silviculture work and plant production is regulated and generally subjected to environmental monitoring. This is particularly true when phytocides are used for site preparation and clearing. Monitoring data make it possible to propose methods that minimize risks to the environment and to human health.

Following the implementation of its Forest Protection Strategy, Quebec began environmental monitoring in certain fragile environments so as to better define problems related to forest operations carried out on thin soils, steep slopes and forested wetlands. Guidebooks can thus be published to help locate these areas and to propose practices that will ensure their conservation. The impact of certain forest operations on the fauna and its habitats was also studied.

MONITORING THE EFFICIENCY OF STANDARDS

Besides using legislative and regulatory tools, Quebec has set up a knowledge acquisition mechanism that enables it to determine if its environmental protection standards are really effective. In fact, it has established a continuous improvement process that will allow it to attain its protection objectives while taking into account the needs and operational constraints of the forest industry. It is worth noting that the forest industry has already made a significant effort to conserve wildlife habitats, especially by respecting stricter standards during the construction of the bridges and culverts required to cross watercourses, and by spreading cutting areas more judiciously across the territory.

CONCLUSION

Environmental protection is becoming an area of increasing concern for both forest users and managers. Since Quebec has turned decisively toward sustainable forest development, environmental, economic and social assessment will become more systematic and it will be based on more precise indicators and criteria. This will enable us to collect the data required to ensure that our forests are managed in accordance with our environmental protection objectives.