Northern timber stocks are in danger because of changes in provincial fire management, say forest producers along Highway 11.
Tembec's chief forester for the Ontario boreal east forest, Rick Groves, writes to Kapuskasing Mayor J.C. Caron that according to the Ministry of Natural Resources draft forest management plan, forests north of Highway 11 will only receive the same level of protection as forests south of the highway when there is sufficient capacity within the fire program.
Tembec fears the strategy means slower fire response times and prioritized action based on risk to high-protection areas such as provincial parks, rather than cutting areas, and availability of firefighters.
The draft is expected to be implemented by spring 2003.