Press release
February 3, 2026
Government must stand up for protected natural areas it creates
FREDERICTON – Green Party Leader and MLA for Fredericton Lincoln David Coon is calling on Natural Resources Minister John Herron to reject J.D. Irving’s request to cut 16,571 hectares of forest recently set aside in protected natural areas. Irving is seeking permission to increase the amount of softwood they harvest and are proposing to meet their goal by logging in protected areas.
“Minister Herron is contemplating swapping out natural areas that currently shelter animal and plant populations from industrial forestry operations for forest that has been degraded,” added Coon. “The Minister has a public obligation to defend protected areas rather than sacrifice them on the altar of corporate profits.”
A recent CBC article quoted Minister Herron as saying he is considering opening up protected natural areas to logging for a “wood supply more cost competitive” for J.D. Irving. At the behest of Minister Herron, J.D. Irving has made presentations to a dozen Mayors and councils to secure their public support for opening up protected natural areas to logging.
“Forestry practices permitted on Crown land by successive governments have severely degraded habitats and have sent the populations of a variety of forest birds into freefall. The science is clear,” said Coon. “Minister Herron claims that he wants to balance the needs of industry with conservation, but he is just continuing the tradition of tipping the scales further in the direction of big industry.”
The provincial government has committed to increasing the amount of protected areas in the province from 10 percent to 15 percent. In fact, this was the only mandate given to Minister Herron by the Premier.
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