Funding announced for silviculture projects

Natural Resources Minister Kathy Dunderdale today announced nearly $200,000 in funding for three silviculture projects that will see the planting of tree seedlings in the vicinity of Mount St. Margaret�s, on the Northern Peninsula, and Terra Nova.

Silviculture projects throughout the province play a vital role in sustaining a future wood supply for the province. The tree seedlings were produced at the Wooddale Provincial Tree Nursery.

Through these tree planting projects, government is demonstrating its commitment to the sustainable development of our forest resource,� Minister Dunderdale said. �At the same time, the silviculture activities create employment opportunities for residents who live in these rural communities.

One project will see the planting of 404,000 white spruce tree seedlings over an area of 202 hectares in the Mount St. Margaret�s area, in the District of St. Barbe. The project is valued at $56,560 and will create about 90 person weeks of employment. It is expected to be completed by the end of August.

�I am pleased to see that our government is continuing to make significant, strategic investments in our forestry industry,� said Wally Young, MHA for St. Barbe. �The planting of seedlings in the area of Mount St. Margaret�s is certainly a welcome investment in the local economy. This initiative will help satisfy an immediate need for employment but it will also help to sustain the forest resource in the region for future use.�

Two projects will take place in the District of Terra Nova. One project in the vicinity of Triton Brook and Rocky Pond will involve preparing 200 hectares of land for planting in 2007. The other project in the area of Riverhead and Northwest Pond will consist of the planting of 880,000 tree seedlings. The two projects are valued at $140,000 and are anticipated to create 84 person weeks of employment.

�This area of the province has a strong historical connection to the forestry industry. People in the region have relied on it, for many years, to provide employment and to help support the local economy,� said Paul Oram, MHA for Terra Nova. �Investments in silviculture initiatives such as this one will help ensure that this important industry continues to flourish in the future.�

Funding for the Provincial Silviculture Program was increased in Budget 2006 as part of a three-year plan to increase the total funding under the program to $10.3 million. This year, the Forestry Services Branch of the Department of Natural Resources will produce 15 million tree seedlings for planting throughout the province.

Media contact: Tracy Barron, Communications, (709) 729-5282, 690-1703

2006 08 01                                              2:50 p.m.