News
April 16, 2021
The Association of Registered Professional Foresters of Newfoundland & Labrador (RPFNL) and the Canadian Institute of Forestry, Newfoundland and Labrador Section (CIFNL) is pleased to provide stakeholder comments regarding Gros Morne National Park’s (GMNP) participation in the Early Intervention Budworm Control Program.
RPFNL is responsible for registering and regulating professional foresters in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Established in 1996, and bound by the Foresters Act (2011), the association is dedicated to the advocacy, promotion and professional practice of forestry in our province.
Established in 1908, the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF) is the oldest forest society in Canada. CIF serves as the “voice of forest practitioners” representing foresters, forest technologists and technicians, ecologists, biologists, educators and many others with a professional interest in forestry. Nationally, there are over 2,000 CIF members. The Newfoundland and Labrador Section (CIFNL), established in 1956, includes approximately 100 members.
Forestry is the profession of science, art, and practice of creating, managing, using and conserving forests and associated resources, in a sustainable manner, to meet desired goals, needs and values for human benefit. It is our position that forests are not static but rather a dynamic intergraded system that requires an adaptive management approach.
Please consider the following comments to help with the decision-making process for Parks Canada for the management of spruce budworm within Gros Morne National Park.
- Forestry is a long-term proposition. The forest of GMNP began to be heavily impacted by insect defoliation in the 1970’s. Over the next 40+ years, the natural forest succession and ecology was adversely impacted to the extent that extensive areas of mature forests were killed and did not sufficiently regenerate, creating “Savannah-like” grassland areas.
- The boreal forest, of which GMNP is part, naturally occurs as even aged forests. It is predisposed to these conditions due to the silvics of its major tree species (i.e. prolific seeders, grow best in full sunlight, and dynamics driven by natural catastrophic events).
- Balsam fir forest types tend to follow the same successional pathways regardless of disturbance type (e.g. insect outbreak, blowdown or cutting) (Meades & Moores, 1989).
- To say that insect defoliation is natural and creates gaps where forests regenerate, as stated by Parks Canada, is only partially true. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the experience has been that natural regeneration has been seriously impacted by moose browsing. Given the fact that moose are also an introduced species, regeneration would be highly dependent on successful management of the moose population.
- The natural succession of predominantly balsam fir forests is mainly insect and wind throw which creates various sized patches of even aged forests. Individual areas could be hundreds of hectares in size.
- Repeated defoliation of budworm resulting in tree mortality, greatly increases the fire behaviour potential for several years after stand mortality. This is primarily due to dead standing trees with crown breakage, windthrow and the rearrangement of dry fuels. If a fire were to occur in this fuel complex, high fire danger ratings could allow for rapid fire spread rates, and the burning of fine bark, branches and twigs could possibly create spot fires well ahead of the flame front (Stocks, 1987).
- Terra Nova National Park has had to employ many forest management techniques such as scarification, prescribed burning and planting to regain appropriate forest cover in that park following the 1970’s insect outbreak and the subsequent failure of natural forest regeneration.
- Consulting the Spruce Budworm Early Intervention Strategy (EIS) would be instructive for the consideration of Parks Canada and others. This EIS research group, composed of several provinces and other groups, has considerable success over several years in dealing with the outbreak currently moving across Eastern Canada.
On behalf of our members, we thank you for your time.
October 18, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RPFNL & CIF-NL to Explore the Ecological Services of Forests and their Sustained Management at the 2019 Annual General Meeting & Conference
ST. JOHN’S, NL – The Newfoundland and Labrador Section of the Canadian Institute of Forestry and the Association of Registered Professional Foresters of Newfoundland and Labrador will be hosting the 2019 Annual General Meeting and Conference, October 22 to 24, 2019 at the Comfort Inn, 106 Airport Road, St. John’s, NL. The theme of the conference is: “Ecological Services of the Forest and their Sustained Management”.
A forests ecological services can include oxygen production, carbon sequestration, regulation of water flow and quality, habitat production, soil stabilization and nutrient cycling. As forest stands age and cycle, these services occur at various degrees and function at different rates. The conference will explore the many and varied benefits humans freely gain from the natural environment and properly functioning ecosystems and examine the critical role of sustainable forest management.
Attendees will get to hear several distinguished speakers including Keynote Speaker, Dr. Peter Duinker, Professor Emeritus, School for Resource and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University. Dr. Duinker will focus on Ecological Services in terms of timber producing forests, the dynamic nature of forests and how contributions to various ecosystem services can change over time.
“I am very excited to welcome attendees and my fellow speakers from academia, parks, and other resource fields. In terms of better understanding sustainable management, our varied backgrounds will no doubt provide valuable insight to our members and guests.”
Dr. Joseph Bowden
Chair, Canadian Institute of Forestry – Newfoundland and Labrador Section
“Increased public awareness, higher environmental standards and the social significance of our forest resources, dictate the need for the utmost degree of competency in our members. Conferences like this will ensure that Registered Professional Foresters practicing in the province are well-equipped to manage our forest resources.”
Wes Morgan, RPF
President, Association of Registered Professional Foresters of Newfoundland and Labrador
Learn More:
www.rpfnl.com and www.cif-ifc.org
Follow us on Twitter: @rpfnl and @cif_nl
Follow us on Facebook: @RPFNL and @CIFNL
Media Contact:
Bruce A. Roberts, RPF
Tel: 709.682.8386
Email: bar@nl.rogers.com
About RPFNL – Association of Registered Professional Foresters of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Association of Registered Professional Foresters of Newfoundland & Labrador is responsible for registering and regulating professional foresters in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Established in 1996, and bound by the Foresters Act (2011), the association is dedicated to the advocacy, promotion and professional practice of forestry within the province. Only members who have demonstrated competence in the profession and have agreed to the RPFNL Code of Ethics are permitted to use the title Registered Professional Forester (RPF).
The objectives of the association are:
- to establish and maintain high standards of professional ethics and excellence for members;
- to assure the general public of the knowledge, skill, proficiency and competency of members;
- to promote and improve the knowledge, skill, proficiency and competency of members; and
- to foster the professional practice of forestry, in a manner that is in the best interest of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.
About CIF-NL – Canadian Institute of Forestry – Newfoundland and Labrador Section
Established in 1908, the CIF-IFC is the oldest forest society in Canada! The Institute serves as the voice of forest practitioners representing foresters, forest technologists and technicians, ecologists, biologists, educators and many others with a professional interest in forestry.
The Institute is dedicated to:
- Providing national leadership in forestry;
- Promoting competency among forestry professionals; and
- Fostering public awareness of forestry issues.
Members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Section include forest practitioners from the province employed in a diverse array of occupations. Employers include provincial government departments (e.g. Forestry, Environment, Wildlife and Crown Lands), municipal and indigenous governments; academia at both the university and college level, industry, private sector, and non-governmental organizations. The Newfoundland and Labrador Section has been providing leadership and promoting professional competency in Newfoundland and Labrador since 1956.
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June 12, 2019
As you may or may not be aware, CIF-NL and RPFNL recently entered into an agreement with the Forget-Me-Not Campaign to help create a legacy project.
The Forget-Me-Not Campaign volunteer group has raised money for several projects in and around the Corner Brook area, most notably the erecting of the Danger Tree sculpture at Grenfell Campus. The sculpture signifies a petrified, solitary tree that still stands at Beaumont Hamel, where so many Newfoundlanders were killed in 1916. The original unveiling took place in 2016, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War.
This summer the group plans to unveil the second installment at the site, a sculpture of First World War Soldier, Pts. Hugh McWhirter. At this ceremony, the forestry sector will be unveiling a commemorative bronze bench to complement the site. The bench recognizes the sacrifices of the Newfoundland Forestry Corps (WWI) and the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit (WWII).
During WWI, the Newfoundland Forestry Corp was a non-combatant unit that supported the war effort. Some 498 skilled lumber men from Newfoundland served in the forests in the UK. In WWII 3,600 Newfoundlanders were again sent overseas in a non-combative role. These volunteers formed the Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit & helped supply timber products critical to British mining operations.
The bench has been sponsored by:
- The Association of Registered Professional Foresters of Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Canadian Institute of Forestry – Newfoundland and Labrador Section
- Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited
- Department of Fisheries and Land Resources
We strongly encourage all members to attend this event on July 19, 2019.
November 26, 2018
Notice to all Practicing Members:
Continuing Competency Program
Professional development is an activity which is expected of all professionals. It is inherent in the legislation for self-governing professions and is of increasing importance if individuals and the profession are to better serve society.
As of January 01, 2018, all PRACTICING members were required to be compliant.
As a reminder, PRACTICING members must:
- complete 150 contact hours during a three (3) year period;
- distribute the hours within accepted categories;
- ensure a minimum of 50 hours are in Category 1; and
- maintain a “Continuing Competency Tracking Form”.
Your Continuing Competency Tracking Form can be found by logging into your account.
For further information on the program, auditing, help with the form, or with logging into your account, please contact Corey Wight or Tammy Higgins.
March 28, 2016
For more information on the Forestry Safety Association, please visit their website nlforestsafety.ca .
March 17, 2016
Posts coming soon!
July 20, 2015
April 10, 2015
Just out, the latest Forest without Borders, Spring Newsletter!
Click Here to read more!
For more information on Forests without Borders or to get involved, please email Bill Clarke at williamclarke@gov.nl.ca.
