Motion – Forestry

The conservation of New Brunswick’s Crown forests and waters is essential to the well-being of our environment, to the survival of the species that live there, and to the overall health of our rural communities. The Provincial government has got to stop the degradation of our forests and rivers by ending clearcutting and herbicide spraying, and embark on a path of restoration and reconciliation.

David Coon

WHEREAS the conservation of New Brunswick’s Crown forests and waters is essential to the well-being of our environment, biodiversity, and the overall health of our communities;

WHEREAS Crown lands were never ceded or surrendered to the Crown by First Nations;

WHEREAS currently 10% of Crown lands are designated as protected natural areas, while another 15% of Crown lands are farmed for high volume wood production in plantations that are harvested by clearcutting, leaving 75% of Crown lands to meet multiple objectives;

WHEREAS research led by Dr. Matt Betts of Oregon State University shows that New Brunswick forestry companies’ practice of clearcutting natural forest has significantly degraded the habitat of between 33 and 104 million forest birds since 1985;

WHEREAS the weight of the evidence in the scientific literature shows that exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides leads to reduced biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems and forests and poses numerous human health risks;

WHEREAS there is a pressing need for enhanced oversight and management of Crown lands and waters to ensure ecologically sustainable practices and responsible stewardship;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly urge the government to replace clearcut logging of Crown Land with ecologically-based harvesting practices;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly urge the government to ban the spraying of herbicides, including glyphosate, on Crown Land;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly urge the government to negotiate shared management agreements for Crown lands with First Nations communities.