The Federation of Quebec Forest Producers, the Gaspé Wood Producers and the Southern Quebec Forest Producers Union have joined forces to create a provincial organization called the Certified Private Forests of Quebec to promote forest management certification of private woodlots.
The three organizations will pool their expertise and resources and unify their regional initiatives under a single FSC certificate. The regions of Gaspésie, Montérégie and Estrie are among the pioneers in the certification of private forests in Quebec. "Bringing together owners and their forest advisers makes it possible to reduce certification costs, facilitate the achievement of requirements and thus increase accessibility," said Martin Larrivée, general manager of the Syndicat des Producteurs forestiers du Sud. of Quebec.
Certified Private Forests of Quebec will cover nearly 200,000 hectares of forests in Estrie, Montérégie and in the Gaspé. The initiative required the close involvement of 10 forestry groups and forestry advisers. It brings together more than 2,500 woodlot owners, the Hereford Community Forest as well as the MRC Avignon, Bonaventure, La Côte-de-Gaspé and Le Rocher-Percé.
For Ms. Katherine Court, Executive Director of the Gaspésie Wood Producers Union, “the owners and the RCMs who participate take great pride in demonstrating that the management of their woodlots meets the highest environmental standards. The initiative also supports the regional forest industry since forest certification allows consumers to recognize forest products resulting from forest practices that respect sustainable forest management standards”.
Source: Foret Privee