PROTECTING THE BASICS
SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY AND HEALTHY ECO-SYSTEMS
Forestry in Ontario is an integral part of many communities and should be an ecologically sustainable source of materials. The forest ecosystems of the province also support a diverse range of animal and plant species. Ontario forests are a significant part of the global eco-system both as a provider of oxygen and as a carbon sink.
The Green Party supports responsible and sustainable forestry practices that show respect for all life. We support multiple uses of forests but also support the preservation of significant segments of bio-systems free from extractive processes.
The Green Party would:
- Support community-controlled, ecologically sustainable logging operations and techniques.
- We would partially shift taxes away from incomes and onto stumpage fees to better reflect the true value of standing forests and to support selective logging and value-added production by making people less expensive to employ.
- End use of pesticides in forest maintenance or regeneration and not allow the use of genetically modified trees. We would phase out chlorine bleaching of paper which causes reproductive, developmental, and behavioural dysfunctions in wildlife and humans.
- Provide incentives for paper mills to convert to hemp paper production, which requires no dioxin-producing chlorine bleach, uses 75% less sulphur-based acid and reduces de-forestation.
- Not support the notion that clear-cuts emulate forest fires or are desirable as caribou habitat. The Greens would not allow clear cutting of jack pine stands which can not regenerate without fire.
- Preserve all remaining old growth in Ontario.
- Protect wildlife species and their habitat by a system of wildlife preserves in all vegetation zones and ecosystems, surrounded by buffer zones and connected by corridors.
- Require the Ministry Of Natural Resources (MNR) develop a comprehensive biodiversity strategy.
- Strengthen and enforce legislation protecting endangered species and de-politicize the process of listing species at risk.
- Adopt the goal of establishing a fair settlement of First Nations land claims, and involve bands and tribal councils in all aspects of forest stewardship.
- Incorporate reforms to Conservation Authority
Boards (direct election of public as well as the current municipally elected
officials) and return funding to the pre-1992 level with cost-of-living
adjustment.