HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-09-17, Page 24Erica Garfat, Huron County’sforest conservation officer providedan executive summary of the forest
management plan at the committee
of the whole meeting, Sept. 9.
Garfat said the 20-year plan
includes all 13 county-owned forests
which cover 1,494 acres or 605
hectares. The primary goal is to
manage the forests on a sustainable
basis ensuring healthy ecosystems
while keeping or improving habitat,
she explained.
Harvesting has been completed at
two tracts while they are currently
harvesting in the Adams Tract.
The sustainability of the county’s
forests, said Garfat can only be
realized through the integration of
economic, social/cultural and
environmental components. The values of the forests arediverse, and include such things ashunting, recreation, education,carbon sinks and aesthetics, saidGarfat.
Because of the many benefits a
number of objectives are supported
in the plan. There is provision of an
adequate vegetation cover and
opportunities for a wide variety of
outdoor recreational experiences.
There will be production of wood
and wood products to provide for the
economic well-being of local wood-
using industries and provide a return
on the investment on forest land.
Also it would promote improved
land use practices on private lands
through demonstration of proper
techniques on the forests.
It was the latter that intrigued
councillor Bernie MacLellan of
Huron East. “It sounds like you’re
using the county forest as test areas,”he said, wondering how this wouldbe promoted.Garfat said that people couldactually come to the forests to seewhat the county is doing to manage
them.
However, this could be five years
down the road, said Garfat. “The
forests have not been properly
managed for some time.”
With the two tracts that are now in
good condition, Garfat when asked,
agreed that they could be used as
examples of before and after.
North Huron councillor Neil
Vincent admitted that the forests
were until now behind in
maintenance, but agreed they would
be perfect places to show others how
to manage. “It’s an excellent idea.”
Murray Scott, a councillor from
North Huron wondered if the
incoming coming from thinning the
forests is substantial. “Is it
worthwhile.”
Garfat said there would be a
higher profit shown in the next 20
years. “It’s like weeding a garden,
you’re not going to get everything
the first year.”
Director of planning Scott Tousaw
said that all the money from
harvesting goes into a forest reserve.
That was at $16,000 last year and is
now over $20,000 he said.
PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2009.County gets forestry plan
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Firing up the grill
The firefighters in Blyth had a busy weekend, serving
breakfasts to local residents and visitors to the Thresher
Reunion on Saturday and Sunday morning. Mike Kerr was
on pancake duty. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Grey Central and that “there are a
number of schools that we could
potentially consider for an
accommodation solution.”
Quizzed by reporters after the
Sept. 8 meeting, Ash confirmed that
“Brussels is (included in the North
Perth review) because of its
proximity to Grey.”
He also spoke about the board’s
hopes that the Education Ministry
will renew its Capital Priorities
initiative – the funding envelope
tapped into earlier this year for the
planned new Wingham-area school.
The program is partly designed to
replace aging schools, and Ash
suggested Brussels might qualify if
the program is renewed.
“Anything’s a possibility as we
work through the process,” the
superintendent responded, when
asked if the board would propose a
new school to replace Brussels
Public.
At the other end of the new North
Perth accommodation review,
Wallace Public School was
originally left out of the Sept. 8 staff
recommendation. But it was placed
into the cluster of schools following
the approval of an amendment from
trustee Meg Westley.
Asked about the omission by
Westley, Ash explained that staff
“went back and forth on this issue”
before deciding to recommend
leaving Wallace out. Even though
the Sept. 8 report states “there is
excess space available at Wallace,”
he said it was felt that it’s unlikely
the school will eventually factor into
any proposed solutions.
The report shows that both Grey
Central and Listowel Central have
experienced greater percentage
declines in enrolment between 2002
and 2008 – at 20.6 per cent and 15.7
per cent, respectively – compared to
Wallace.
Trustees argued, however, that
leaving the Wallace community out
of the accommodation review would
make it impossible to include the
school in a solution. And both
Westley and fellow Stratford trustee
Doug Pratley maintained there
remains a slight possibility that a
review committee would propose
such a solution.
The next step is an Oct. 22
information meeting about the
pending accommodation review. A
separate information meeting will be
held the previous evening for the
North Perth/northeast Huron cluster.
Then comes the formation of
Accommodation Review
Committees (ARCs), which include
membership from each school
council, each municipality affected
by the review, principals, trustees,
and administrative staff.
These committees research the
current characteristics of the
existing schools and suggest
possible solutions to the board’s
pupil accommodation challenges,
but this is meant simply to provide
information to trustees.
Administrative staff may make
entirely different recommendations,
and trustees weigh the merits of the
different viewpoints before making
a decision.
A series of small amendments to
the board’s accommodation review
policy, also approved at the Sept. 8
meeting, included a clause stating
administrative staff will prepare a
set of proposed solutions for
presentation at the beginning of the
process to the ARCs.
Brussels, Grey
linked in ARC
Porchak of Woodstock in the 18 and
under class; Jeff Miller of
Dashwood in the 19-49 class; Ken
Cook of Dorchester in the 50-69
class and Alf Leno of Collingwood
in the 70 and over class. Devan
Martene of Crediton was the winner
of the open class.
The fiddle competition hosted 31
participants.
In the step dancing competition,
the winners were: Amanda
MacInnes of Dundalk in the nine
and under class; Kristen Walsh of
Egmondville in the 12 and under
class; Keaton Rutherford of Embro
in the 18 and under class; Jan
Ballagh of Teeswater in the 19 and
over class and Melissa Mouck of
Orangeville won the open class.
The junior group class was won
by ReelFX of St. Agatha/Baden/
Milverton and the open class was
won by Vide from Orangeville and
Caledon East.
The step dancing competition had
31 dancers and six groups
participating.
Thursday night’s fiddle workshop
had 40 fiddlers playing in unison,
calling themselves The Blyth
Symphony.
40 fiddlers
play in ‘Blyth
Symphony’
Continued from page 1
Continued from page 1
By Bonnie GroppThe Citizen