Silviculture-related activities in the Humber Valley region this summer will see 331,000 tree seedlings planted and the completion of site preparation and pre-commercial thinning of over 538 hectares.

"Silviculture continues to be an important part of the government�s commitment to proper forest management and sustaining our forest resource for the future," said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency. "Through projects of this nature, rural communities can continue to rely on the economic stability that a healthy forest industry provides."

In total, $200,000 will be spent on three projects in the Chouse Brook/ Faulkner�s Flat, Chain Lakes and Kennedy Lake North areas.

"As the member for Humber Valley, I am extremely pleased with the announcement of silviculture activities in the district," said MHA Darryl Kelly. "Silviculture is vital to this area. Forestry has been an important industry in the region for nearly a hundred years and this government is continuing its strong commitment to assist in the long-term viability of the forest industry."

A tree planting project in the White Bay area will reforest 73 hectares of land in Chouse Brook and 130 hectares in Faulkner�s Flats. The project is valued at $80,400 and will employ 10 people over an eight-week period to plant 306,000 black spruce and 25,000 Norway spruce seedlings.

A pre-commercial thinning project over 75 hectares in the Chain Lakes area will allow 2,500 healthy and well-spaced spruce and fir trees to flourish. This project is valued at $85,600 and will employ 10 people for 10 weeks.

The third project in the region involves preparing 260 hectares in Kennedy Lake North for future planting. Vegetation management is necessary on new silviculture sites to promote quicker growth of tree seedlings by reducing the amount of competing vegetation. This project is valued at $51,500.

The Provincial Government has increased its investment in silviculture by $1 million this year, for a total budget of $10.4 million in support of silviculture activities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Budget 2008 also contains $14 million in new funding to support diversification initiatives for the forest sector to provide for stability and create growth in the industry.