The Rural Voice, 2001-05, Page 42Warren D. Moore
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Paris, Ontario 519-442-3102
1-888-923-9995
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38 THE RURAL VOICE
that when a windrow, is planted as
part of a minor exception approval, it
must be maintained for a minimum
of 15 years.
Chisholm rejects some of the
categorization in the bylaw, which he
said gives no commercial value to
willow or hackberry trees. He also
questions the cutting -size limitation
on some species.
With certain trees, there is a
die -back factor, he said. If
landowners are not allowed
to cut them for commercial purposes
earlier, the woodlot will degenerate.
Under good forestry practices, the
bylaw allows the cutting of
hazardous, damaged, diseased and
insect -infected trees which could be a
detriment to the woodlot. Removal is
also suggested if the trees do not
contribute to overall forest value.
Chisholm said an experienced tree
commissioner is crucial as that
person would be able to assist
farmers in selecting and managing
the forests.
Lawson pointed out that individual
landowners cutting wood for
personal use are not impacted by the
bylaw as long as not more than .5
acres is downed in one year. "We
have a lot of Mennonites in our
county who use a lot of wood for
heating," she added.
Registered landowners may also
allow the harvesting of trees without
a notice of intent if fewer than two
trees per acre are removed within one
year or if in the cutting of the two
trees per acre, fewer than 20 logs are
produced within one year.
(A log refers to a portion of a
prescribed species reduced to a size
suitable for loading on a vehicle for
transportation to a processing mill.)
Personal use does not include sale,
exchange or disposition of trees that
are cut.
The process of updating the 14 -
year -old bylaw began in 1999, said
Lawson. At that time the provincial
government created a new act to
oversee woodlot issues.
"Instead of being under the Trees
Act," said Lawson, "It was now
under a forestry act." As of
December 31, 1999, county bylaws
had to meet the new standards.
"The old bylaw dealt with
commercial cutting," she said. "The
new forestry act looks at preservation
and conservation in woodlots, not
just cutting."
The task of creating a new bylaw
for the county soon began. When a
first draft was completed, 150
individuals and organizations asked
for input. Throughout the fall of
2000, presentations from community
groups were heard at the committee
level of county council.
During October, open houses were
held on both the tree bylaw and
county forests.
With the comments and feedback
gathered, county personnel drafted a
second bylaw which was circulated
to the original 150 plus 50 more who
had attended discussion sessions or
open houses.
After a little more tinkering and
meeting more governmental changes,
Lawson said it's hoped the new
bylaw will be approved this spring.
In an overview of the second draft,
the bylaw deals mainly with
commercial and large scale
operations and includes aspects of
ecological awareness for the long
term maintenance and improvement
of existing woodlots.
The bylaw includes a list of more
than 50 tree species or varieties for
which specific cutting regulations
apply. As an example, Norway
spruce must have reached a
circumference of 112 centimeters (44
inches) or 36 centimeters (14 inches)
in diameter at a height of 46
centimeters (18 inches) from the
highest, undisturbed point on the
ground.
However, conifers in a plantation
cannot be cut except under specific
conditions.
Numerous exceptions are listed in
the bylaw which allow for guidelines
to be altered depending on individual
situations. A minor exemption can
also be sought through application to
the county.
Lawson said several of the
regulations apply to municipal,
provincial or federal standards and
must be included in the bylaw. Some
of these include interference with the
Municipal Act, provincial legislation,
agencies acting on behalf of the
Crown, the Electricity Act, Planning
Act under Subdivision or Site Plan
Agreement, Drainage Act, Surveyor
Act and Aggregate Resources Act.
It does not apply to trees growing