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

Furthermore, current CCFM initiatives (such as the National Forest Information System,the National Forestry Database Program, and the Canadian Forest Inventory Committee)could be expanded to include some bioenergy components, thus bringing added value toinvestments that have already been made by the CCFM. There may also be parallels inprocess for cooperative sustainability work to the processes that the CCFM is using forcommon interests between jurisdictions in the Canadian Wildland Fire Strategy.Forests for the public goodForests serve all humanity in a variety of ways. Their ecological function such as waterand air filtration provides free ecological services to people. Since these services are freewe often overlook them. In Canada, with extensive forest cover, it is even more likelyfor us to take these services for granted both locally and internationally. For example,Canada does not use forestry as a development aid tool today even though an importantreason for the poverty and suffering in many areas is due to the lack of forest coverresulting in a scarcity of water, soil erosion, malnutrition and illness. We strongly urge areinstatement of forestry as a developmental tool for international aid.ConclusionWe applaud the CCFM for championing sustainable forest management across Canada(Rousseau 2003). Your leadership since 1985 has resulted in tangible progress in forestrestoration, the application of new knowledge in the science of ecosystem management,better public consultation etc. We recognize that forests are complex and forest activitieshave long term implications in a changing social and ecological environment, your workis difficult and to be successful will need the help of all Canadians. We in the CIF/IFCwill continue to support your efforts to better the lives of current and future generationsthat obtain benefits from forests.The CIF/IFC is a grass roots volunteer organization made up of passionate forestprofessionals. For us forests are a treasure and forestry is not a job but a passion. Weengage people in our local communities on the long term stewardship of forests throughlocal events. In any year over 50 local events occur across Canada. The CIF/IFCcontinues to develop new ways to promote innovation in a constructive manner with allinvolved in the stewardship of forests. Our most recent success has been the use of e-lectures that enable our members and interested public to listen to experts on a numberof highly relevant topics such as climate change, woodland caribou and bioenergy. TheForestry Chronicle, a feature since 1925, continues to be the most read forestry journalby forest practitioners in Canada. Our communication, charitable and educationalactivities are not based on convincing people to take certain positions instead we try andpresent information in a factual and scientifically credible manner, leaving those weengage to develop their own conclusions. We offer these communication services toyour organization as a means of communicating and reporting the activities of theCCFM. Our upcoming Annual General Meetings in 2009 and 2010 focus on the biofibreeconomy, climate change and the changing use and users of forests. Both themes areconsistent with the strategic objectives of the CCFM. We offer an invitation to theCCFM and its member agencies to participate in our future Annual General Meetings.- 93 -