a unique perspective a vision for canada's forests - Canadian ...

A Unique Perspective onA Vision for Canada’s Forests: 2008 and Beyondpublished in the September/October 2005 issue of The Forestry Chronicle. Since then, about 20articles with ―climate change‖ in the title have appeared in the Chronicle. The second in theseries of electronic lectures focused on climate change and forests. The keynote speaker atthe Institute’s 2009 national conference was renowned Canadian scientist Werner Kurz,speaking on ―Climate change, carbon, bioenergy and forestry‖.In addition, the CIF/IFC issued a press release based on the article, ―Fact and fantasy aboutforest carbon‖, from the March/April 2008 issue of The Forestry Chronicle. This particularrelease received much uptake in the popular press. Its basic premise was that good forestmanagement is conducive to a net positive carbon storage by forest ecosystems, and ispotentially a mitigating factor in climate change. In addition, digital copies of the fullChronicle article were distributed widely and provided free of charge to non CIF/IFCmembers across Canada. The Institute also participates on the bi-national committeedeveloping carbon credit accounting standards in North America, and has assisted withreporting the progress of this initiative.In 2007, the Institute distributed an editorial to the popular media entitled ―A Park or Parkit: are these solutions to climate change?‖ This particular article also received much attentionfrom the public. It questioned the validity of the argument that the cessation of sustainableharvesting in forests is a solution to climate change, instead suggesting that emissionsresulting from the consumption of fossil fuels are more likely the main cause. The Institutewill continue to work to clearly define the difference between deforestation and sustainableforest management that includes harvesting, as they relate to public perceptions aroundclimate change. As well, the CIF/IFC is promoting a better understanding of effectivescience-based silviculture and forest regeneration in Canada, through many of its activitiesand communications products.Section activities across Canada address many forest sector issues and challenges directly. Anumber of Sections have held sessions with woodlot owners to present scientificinformation and explore possibilities for action for adaptation to changing conditions and- 12 -