In a memorandum submitted to the Quebec government March 28, the Association of Biologists of Quebec supports several new directions proposed in the government Green Paper in preparation for a new forest. In particular, to provide Quebec with a strategy of sustainable development and regional communities to entrust new responsibilities for forest management. However, the ABQ would like the vision of the new forestry regime reflects more explicitly the importance given to the protection of biodiversity, an essential prerequisite to any sustainable development strategy.
To ensure sustainable management of forests, ABQ also stresses the need (1) to integrate the various skills in management of forest resources, including biologists, (2) investing in education and research and (3) build partnerships with First Nations. Biologists have been involved for many decades in the conservation and enhancement of wildlife resources of the forest and their expertise could be harnessed. Also, it is important that Quebecers are better informed to make sense of the integrated management of resources and actively participate in new roles in the region. Finally, regionalization is an opportunity for indigenous people to redefine their role in the integrated management of forest resources and enhance their knowledge and their know-how.
ABQ has some reservations about the proposed zoning in the Green Paper, which allocates about 30% of productive forest to forestry intensive. We believe that this high proportion devoted to intensive management could pose a risk to biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. The ABQ requests the Government to meet one of the main recommendations of the Coulombe report, namely "that ecosystem management is at the heart of the management of public forests of Quebec."
Under this reform based on Sustainable Development, we believe it is essential that professional acts to be performed by biologists, both to ensure the public eye protection of wildlife habitats that ensure accountability in terms of biodiversity.
ABQ is currently in demand for the establishment of a professional to the Office des Professions du Quebec (OPQ).
Gaétane Boisseau
biologist, M.Sc.
Consultant Conservation
biologist Patrick Paré, M.Sc.
Vice President Communications Association
biologists Quebec
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