François Legault was interviewed by Québec solidaire co-speaker Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois on the importance of better forest management in the age of climate change.
According to the Society for the Protection of Forests from Fire (SOPFEU), there are currently 131 forest fires in Quebec.
The forest caribou conservation strategy was due to be presented by the Ministry of Environment, Combating Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks (MELCCFP) in June, the government has announced for months.
The Minister of Natural Resources is already working hard to effectively address the impact of the current wildfires on the forest regime, and the same goes for caribou conservation. So what should be announced in the coming days, we are checking everything, the Prime Minister assured.
The forest caribou (forest ecotype) is one of the most valued endangered species in Quebec’s population, according to a study by the Canada Research Chair in Ecological Economics.
Photo: Getty Images
It should be noted that since the appointment of the Council of Ministers after the last provincial elections, the Ministry of Natural Resources now also includes the Forestry Department. It is the ministry that assigns management rights to forest enterprises in particular. It was the Department of Forests, Wildlife and Parks that had been split up.
readjustments
The Conservation Strategy, the draft of which has been the subject of presentations to affected groups for several weeks, is expected to reduce logging areas accessible to businesses. In addition, notices were sent to companies asking them to stop logging in areas that should be protected to encourage the recovery of populations of the threatened species.
Expect Quebec to reassess the expected reduction in allowable cuttings in terms of burnt wood that could be salvaged by the industry. It is also possible that protected areas or areas that will be less disturbed in the future are among the burned areas.
In addition, factories are currently closed as the wood harvest in the forest is stopped due to the fires.
The wildfire that threatens Chibougamau covers an area of 800 square kilometers.
Photo: Courtesy
On Thursday, the Prefect of the MRC of Lac-Saint-Jean-Est, Louis Ouellet, reiterated that the concept of protected areas to promote the protection of a species is no longer sufficient given the expected increase in forest fires. He believes governments should consider the new realities before releasing the new strategy. According to him, the timber supply capacity in the boreal forest will be severely limited after the fires.
For example, at MRC Maria-Chapdelaine in Lac-Saint-Jean, a total of more than 51,000 hectares were destroyed by forest fires. This is an area of about 500 km2. This region is known for its logging.
Already postponed
The new caribou conservation strategy was originally scheduled to be presented before the end of 2021. It had been delayed to make way for the Independent Forest and Mountain Caribou Commission, which toured affected regions in spring 2022.
Earlier this week, the MELCCFPP declined to comment on whether the unveiling of the protection strategy could be delayed.
The government is closely monitoring the situation. A statement in this direction is currently not possible, a representative of the ministry told Radio Canada.