Dear Editor,
This letter is to introduce and provide information about the Sustainable Forest Management Committee (SFMC), a public participation committee of Tolko Industries Ltd. of The Pas.
Membership of the committee, for which there is no cost, includes a variety of people and organizations, such as trappers, fishers, lodge owners, mining companies, Aboriginal organizations and government representatives, who are interested in the use and management of the forest resource.
The committee meets at least four times yearly. One of the meetings a field trip to observe Tolko operations, while the other meetings are at the Tolko offices in The Pas.
The purpose of the SFMC is to provide public participation in the use of the forest by Tolko. This includes learning about forest operations, expressing concerns about use and management of the forest, and making suggestions for improved use of the resource.
The committee does not have any authority to decide or enforce specific Tolko management decisions. The role of the committee is restricted to being advisory, but any concern or advice by the committee is always investigated and considered by Tolko, and influences management decisions.
The SFMC exists because of a requirement of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). Several of the major forest companies in Canada comply with this requirement to qualify for a recognized industry operating standard. Yearly audits of Tolko operations ensure compliance with the CSA standard requirements.
Participation in the SFMC also provides an excellent opportunity to learn about use of the forest resource.
For example:
• The forest in our area matures in approximately 60 to 80 years, after which it is vulnerable to either fire or disease if not harvested (the Cranberry Portage fire of 2010 destroyed a large area of forest scheduled for harvest);
• Fire has destroyed a larger area of forest than the total area harvested by industry in northern Manitoba.
• During the 2012 season, three million trees were planted covering 1,200 hectares.
• Improved management of boiler fuel (Tolko plant, The Pas) resulted in 30,000 fewer tons of Co2 emissions.
Information like this is always easily available while participating as a member of the SFMC.
For the information of any person or organization interested to attend the SFMC meetings, the next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 22, 9 am, Tolko Offices, The Pas.
More information about the committee and Tolko is available at its website at Tolko.com.
