Evelyne Thiffault: Abandonment of forest regime reform in Quebec: issues and perspectives!
Quebec’s forestry regime provides a framework for the management of public forests, including the allocation of logging rights, forest management planning, and the regulation of logging practices. This framework aims to ensure a balance between the economic use of forest resources and the preservation of ecosystems.
For several years, this model has been the subject of growing criticism. Concerns focus on the long-term sustainability of current practices, environmental impacts on forest ecosystems, and social and economic impacts on local communities. Governance issues, such as transparency and stakeholder participation, have also been raised.
In response to these challenges, the Quebec government presented a draft reform of the forest regime. The objective was to modernize the management of public forests by focusing on several areas: strengthening ecological sustainability, improving consultation with affected communities, particularly Indigenous communities, and integrating scientific data more fully into decision-making. This reform also aimed to adapt forest management to current climatic and economic realities.
Evelyne Thiffault, a regular member of the CRMR, professor in the Department of Wood and Forest Sciences at Laval University, and a recognized specialist in forest management, commented on this issue in an interview broadcast on Radio-Canada OHdio. She emphasized the importance of a balanced approach that takes into account not only ecological issues, but also economic and social dimensions, in order to ensure the sustainability of forest resources for future generations.
In her analysis, Ms. Thiffault explained why the bill to reform the forestry regime was ultimately abandoned. According to her, this decision was the result of several interrelated factors, primarily:
- Opposition from stakeholders: Environmental groups, Indigenous communities, and forestry workers and stakeholders expressed serious concerns. Their criticism focused mainly on the terms and conditions for granting logging rights, the consultation process, and the consideration of local interests.
- Complexity of implementation: The proposed reform involved profound changes in the organization and management of public forests, raising questions about its technical, administrative, and financial feasibility.
According to Evelyne, this abandonment illustrates the complexity of a reform that must reconcile multiple issues: environmental protection, economic development, community rights, and governance, while taking political and social realities into account. She emphasizes that it remains crucial to continue the discussion on forest management in Quebec in order to ensure responsible and sustainable exploitation of forest resources, in a context where climate and ecological issues are becoming increasingly pressing.
👉 Listen to the interview here
By: Bouslimi Besma