Quebec holds consultations on local forests

July 7, 2011, Saint-Modeste, QC – The
Quebec Ministry of Natural Resources and Wildlife has announced that public
consultations on the future policy for local forests will take place between September 6 and November 11, 2011.

The establishment of local forests is a
major element of the new forestry regime. Local forests comprise the local
delegation of land and some resource management to local and indigenous
communities. They aim to promote the socioeconomic development of these
communities by expanding their decision-making power and responsibilities for
the development of an area and some of its resources.

Following these consultations, the Ministry
of Natural Resources and Wildlife will file, in the spring of 2012, policy
allowing the establishment of 85 local forests. Ten to fifteen new projects
will be selected at the first call for projects that will be distributed
throughout Quebec.

Different development activities may take place in different local forests, for
example, timber harvesting, recreation and tourism, development of non-timber
forest products, and other uses. The selected projects must be economically
viable and encourage reinvestment in communities.

The documentation for this consultation is available at:
www.consultation-forets-proximite.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca  and www.mrnf.gouv.qc.ca/forets/consultation/consultation-forets-proximite.jsp.