Drone picture of a barren area directly east of the potential clear-cut event. (Submitted/ Dave Rondeau)

By Nigel Maxwell

Forest protection

‘It is a win for us’: Sask. government halts clear cutting plans

Apr 17, 2024 | 9:57 AM

Members of several First Nations in the Prince Albert area are claiming a small victory.

That’s because the provincial government has for now halted plans to clear cut a section of forest in the Holbein and Crutwell areas. Dave Rondeau has been advocating for the affected communities and relayed his cautious excitement about the one year moratorium.

“It is a win for us absolutely because they’ve halted and they’re having a look at the opinions of the people on the importance of that area,” he said.

Fearing the province’s forest management plan would have a big impact on their ability to hunt and gather medicines, over a dozen people showed up unannounced last January at the forestry centre in Prince Albert and held a protest. Concerns were also raised with respect to disturbing potential burial sites.

The decision by the provincial government to halt the Island Forest Timber Harvest Operating Plan (FOP), comes after months of communication between the two sides. Rondeau explained the area in question is referred to as the island forest because it is patches of forest, and grows on sand.

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“So if you go in and clearcut, especially in times like now, especially in this drought, the chances of that forest coming back in any semblance to what it once was, are slim to none,” he said.

A picture taken during last January’s protest. (Nigel Maxwell/ paNOW Staff)

Further noting that replanting a forest a dozen times will do nothing, Rondeau said even when a tree plantation does occur after a clear cut, the forest bears little semblance to its previous form.

“Where we live you’re lucky if you see a set of animal tracks,” he said.

At the time of last January’s protest, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment stated they had no intention to destroy any sort of cultural site, and that their goal was sustainable management to prevent the spread of fires.

In turn, Rondeau said fires are a natural part of the cycle that is missing, adding by removing the bio mass, you are creating zero chance bring any of the forest back and the new trees that grow will be more susceptible to forest fires.

“These are facts,” he said.

The Ministry of Environment provided the following statement:

“During consultation engagement, communities raised concerns about heritage values in the vicinity of several proposed harvest areas in the Holbein area. The Ministry of Environment has therefore deferred forestry activities in these specific areas for one year to allow time for communities to collect and provide the ministry with specific information about existing Treaty rights potentially impacted by the proposed timber harvesting.”

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

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