---

Actions and Policies to Ensure
Sustainable Development

Current management of the boreal forest is largely in the hands of the provinces. Each province has its own legislation, regulations and policies for allocating harvesting rights and forest management responsibilities such as monitoring harvesting and encouraging sound logging and reforestation practises. The federal government, which controls just over 5% of the boreal forest, contributes in the areas of scientific research, economic development, international trade and relations and pesticides registration.

Both levels of government protect significant tracts of forest from logging in national and provincial parks, ecological reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation areas and forest preserves. In addition, timber harvesting on commercial forest lands is now excluded, by policy, from sensitive areas such as shallow or rocky soil, steep slopes, and buffer zones along roads, lakes and watercourses.

To achieve Canada's goal of sustainable forest development, a wide range of complex issues must be dealt with. During the early 1990s, concerned forestry officials set out to develop a master plan that would ensure a co-ordinated, ecological approach to forest management in Canada. The product of that undertaking is the National Forest Strategy. It was endorsed in 1992 by all levels of government as well as by the representatives of industry, Aboriginal peoples, educational and conservation groups. The strategy views the boreal forest as being as important to the hiker, the ecologist and the everyday citizen as to the lumber baron and the commodities trader. It encourages any research that might add to the knowledge of how forest ecosystems operate and how their biodiversity and vigour can be protected and enhanced.