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June 10, 1998
(Forest Resources and Agrifoods)


Forestry Minister responds to release of Forest Protection Program from Environmental Assessment Review process

Kevin Aylward, Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods, was satisfied today to receive the decision by the Minister of Environment and Labour which released the proposed aerial spray program against the sawfly from further review under the environmental assessment process.

"This decision allows us to live up to our obligation to protect our forests against a serious infestation by the balsam fir sawfly and yellowheaded spruce sawfly," said the minister. "This year the infestation has moved into a 10,000 hectare area which has received over $10 million worth of silvicultural treatment. We believe that, by passing the scrutiny of the environmental assessment review process, this forest protection program effectively balances environmental and economic responsibilities to safeguard an investment in a continued wood supply for our traditional forest industries."

The extent and persistence of this infestation resulted in the proposal for an aerial spray program against the balsam fir sawfly and the yellowheaded spruce sawfly using the chemical insecticide, Dylox. Until now, the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods has not undertaken any spray protection against the sawfly.

"Although the infestation was first observed to increase in 1991, the department hoped that the sawfly's natural cycle would see the population collapse after three to four years. This has not happened." explained the minister. "Therefore, we are now dealing with a major infestation of balsam fir sawfly in Western Newfoundland in the Grand Lake and Big Bull Pond area, and in Central Newfoundland, near the Bay dEspoir highway."

The common biological insecticide that has been applied aerially in forests against the spruce budworm and hemlock looper, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (B.t.), is not effective against sawflies. The department is involved in ongoing comprehensive research with the Canadian Forest Service for a biological control solution.

Dylox has successfully gone through the Federal Pesticides Management Review process and is used on a variety of ornamental, field, and vegetable crops for human consumption including application against blueberry sawfly. The department obtained "Emergency Use" registration under the federal Pest Control Products Act, administered by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) of Health Canada to use Dylox against the balsam fir sawfly. This is a one-year only approval. Therefore, in 1998, there would be a limited spray program involving about 10,000 hectares on silviculturally treated forest. This proposed spray program was registered with the provincial environmental assessment process.

"I would also like to inform the public about the ongoing control program against the hemlock looper," said the minister. "At present, it is anticipated that the total treatment area for this insect will not exceed 20,000 hectares. This will involve the application of the biological control B.t in northern Newfoundland, particularly around Hawkes Bay, and in the area between Bellburns to Castors River. We will undertake our extensive public notification program before the spray season begins in late June/early July and will continue to provide timely information throughout the program which should be finished by the end of July."

The province is facing a wood supply shortage requiring every effort to be made to protect the existing resource against loss from fire or insects. Other initiatives include importation of wood, exchanges between sawmillers and the pulp and paper companies, as well as recycling. Over the past 20 years, government and industry have spent in excess of $160 million on silviculture projects aimed at enhancing the wood supply of the province. In 1997 alone, approximately 16,000 hectares of forest received silviculture treatment, such as thinnings and planting over 7.5 million seedlings, at a cost of some $16 million, creating some 23,000 person weeks of employment. Silviculture is an effective tool for improving the wood supply in the province, but these investments must also be protected if we are to secure a future for both our forest and our forest industry.

The pulp and paper and sawmilling industries currently make up over 20 per cent of the Manufacturing Gross Domestic Product in this province, and the forest sector accounts for approximately 10,000 direct and indirect jobs primarily in rural Newfoundland.

Contact: David Wells, Communications, (709) 729-6183, Anna Buffinga, (709) 729-3217.

1998 06 10 1:00 p.m.


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