The issues facing the forestry sector are very similar all across the country and that’s why Colin Carroll sees a great benefit for this province being a part of the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF).
Carroll works in the forest sector as a director with the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources regional services division in Corner Brook.
He’s also the new national president of the CIF and on Wednesday participated in Explore Forestry Day activities with elementary students from around the city and Bay of Islands at Margaret Bowater Park. The day was held as part of National Forest Week.
The CIF is the voice of forest practitioners and is made up of forestry professionals, industry workers, ecologists, educators and government employees with about 105 active members in the Newfoundland and Labrador section.
Carroll said each of the association’s sections work to promote forestry related activities in their region.
It’s through the national body that the sections get to collaborate and share ideas.
In terms of the health of the forests in this province, Carroll feels they are in good shape, both physically and in terms of the industries and products that come out of them.
That doesn’t mean that the forestry sector is without issues.
“We have a changing type of dynamic here in the province with regards to sustaining our sawmill capacity,” said Carroll.
“In the past, we used to have a large pulp and paper sector, which is now somewhat reduced. But we want to sustain what we have remaining and promote it further.”
Carroll also sees that there is room to grow.
“And moving into the diversification of products.”
One area is in relation to biomass and that’s something that Fisheries and Land Resources Minister Gerry Byrne said is being studied now.
“We are exploring new opportunities to use wood fiber as an alternative fuel source. Replacing carbon rich fuel sources such as oil for heating of our public buildings.”
Byrne said the province is encouraging the private sector to consider that for new construction and retrofitting.
It’s also seeing great opportunities in the forest sector by utilizing the forest biomass for bioenergy, biodiesel production.
“You can extract a type of diesel fuel from wood fiber,” said Byrne.
It’s a relatively new technology that’s already being used in other parts of the country and the world and that is applicable to the province.
“We’re exploring that and we’re trying to attract investment in that.”
Explore Forestry Day was hosted by
Department of Fisheries and Land Resources
Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd.
Forest Safety Association of NL
Resource Innovations
Canadian Forest Service
City of Corner Brook
