|
A Clear-Cut Future
for the Main?
Since the late 19th century, logging companies,
large and small, have harvested the black
spruce and balsam fir of Newfoundland's
western peninsula. Along with fishing, timber-cutting
and sawmilling have sustained local economies
for generations. While the nearby forests
of other wilderness rivers have disappeared,
the rugged Main has remained relatively
undisturbed by logging trucks and mechanical
harvesters.
But a major Cornerbrook pulp and paper
company has cutting rights in the area,
subject to controversial forest management
plans. The rights permit new logging roads
to be built into several parts of river
valley, to provide access to up to 90% of
the area's old-growth forests.
Conservation
Concerns: Conservation groups oppose
logging in the Main River watershed, and
maintain that industry and government proposals
to designate a limited number of "no-cut"
zones are inadequate. Their objections to
Main River forestry are based on:
• the
river's nomination as a Canadian Heritage
River
• its
habitat importance to the endangered pine
marten and woodland caribou
• the
ecological significance of the area's old-growth
forests
• the
negative effect of erosion and siltation
on the river's Atlantic salmon population
• its
reputation as a top whitewater canoeing
river
• its
connection with the ecological integrity
of neighbouring Gros Morne National Park.
Conservationists have drawn attention to
the growing eco-tourism potential of the
Main River as an economic development alternative
to logging.
The Newfoundland
Forestry Industry At a Glance
•Main
species logged: black spruce and balsam
fir (96%-97% softwood, 3%-4% hardwood)
• Total
timber logged annually: 2.5 million square
metres
• Total
annual lumber production: 125 million board
feet
• Number
of commercially licensed sawmills: 800
• Number
of large-scale sawmills: 11 (accounting
for 80% of total lumber production)
• Number
of newsprint mills: 3 (Abitibi at Grand
Falls-Windsor, Kruger at Corner Brook)
• Total
annual newsprint production: 740,000 tonnes
• Number
of producers of value-added wood products:
30
• Total
number of forestry-related jobs (full and
part time): 10,000 |
