The Daily Gleaner (Fredericton)
2006.12.11
The Canadian Press
In an effort to combat overexploitation of Quebec's forests, the province's chief forester announced Friday the wood harvest will be cut back by another 3.8 per cent between 2008 and 2013.
The reduction is in addition to the 20 per cent cut announced in March 2005.
Pierre Levac also reduced the harvest of leafy hardwoods by 15 per cent.
The total volume of harvested wood will decrease by 21.9 per cent in 2008 compared with 2005. Levac also said forest companies should delve into less accessible locations, even if there is less interest in doing so.
"With a slice of bread, we can't only eat the centre and leave the crust," he said at a news conference in Roberval in Quebec's lumber heartland northwest of Quebec City.
The Quebec Forest Industry Council said the new reduction will hit the Lower St. Lawrent and North Shore regions hard.
Council president Guy Chevrette said it's difficult to say what impact the decision will have on the thousands of jobs in Quebec's forestry industry.