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Deforestation spurs debate CANDICE VETTER candice.vetter@eap.on.ca
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Deforestation for various purposes, in- cluding agricultural and residential pur- poses, is a growing concern for Russell Township environmentalists, including Cindy Saucier, a member of the Environ- mental Advisory Committee and Trees for Tomorrow. Others, however, such as François Lapointe of Lapointe Drainage, a land-drainage specialist that works close- ly with the farming industry, points out to the obvious: growing food is important. Cindy Saucier has publicly expressed fear for loss of natural habitat, loss of trees that filter and oxygenate air, and reduced water quality due to tree removal. In a re- cent statement, she also mentioned a re- generated forest along Eadie Road that was clear cut this spring and the grassland on it plowed for agriculture. It is now a tiled corn field. “Trees for Tomorrow has been planting trees,” she said. “But last spring when we planted 10,000 trees, we lost just as many.” She hopes a tree bylawwill become an elec- tion issue in the upcoming municipal elec- tions. “In most cases, land clearing occurs where agriculture took place before,” re- plied François Lapointe. “Those fields were abandoned due to a lack of drainage and the economic situation of the time.” “Growing food is important,” replies La- pointe. “Now, worldwide, it’s a race to pro- duce food, and produce it the cheapest way,” he said. “The human race is already starving, and below two per cent of the population could take care of it…Farmers are constantly at risk—the weather, eco- nomic situation around the world, unstable commodities prices.” He explained that clearing large tracts means less drain clogging due to roots and helps maximize food production. “Those activities involve water control and erosion management, drainage, land clearing and being environmentally responsible at the same time.” He says agricultural lands are 6.8 per cent of Canadian land, of which only 2.5 per cent is considered prime farm land. But according to specialists, fewer trees can reduce water quality. “Roots and trees protect the banks of watercourses, includ-
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Photo Candice Vetter
Deforestation for various purposes, including agricultural and residential purposes, is a growing concern for Russell Township environmentalist
LE PÉTROLE FAIT DES HEUREUX! GAGNANTS DU MOIS D’AOÛT 2014 À gauche : Robert Emerson Russell À droite : Fabiola Gallarno d’Embrun “Windbreaks, I would recommend only conifers, or too much drainage problems occur with root systems in the drains,” said Lapointe. He adds that crops such as corn and wheat also filter and oxygenate air (like all grasses) and points to a NASA report at http://www.nasa.gov/press/goddard/2014/ march/satellite-shows-high-productivity- from-us-corn-belt. It states the U.S. Midwest corn belt during the growing season shows more photosynthesis than anywhere on Earth. The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food ing drains, from erosion, resulting in less drain maintenance,” said Pat Piitz, Science and Research Director at South Nation Con- servation. “From the watershed perspec- tive, we can tell there is increased forest loss and speculate it’s about 500 hectares per year.” Piitz agreed that Russell’s tree cover is low (below 14 per cent with a new survey expected next spring) but adds the town- ship has some of the best farmland so that is expected. Forests and lines of trees can slow winds, reducing erosion, providing shade, cooling fish habitats, filtering runoff before it enters watercourses, screening toxins in the air, removing carbon and increasing oxygen. They also protect against drifting snow in the winter.
and Rural Affairs website says downwind shelterbelts can reduce pesticide drift. Con- servation Ontario (www.conservationon- tario.ca) has designs for windbreak projects, including tree species and potential fund- ing. SNC programs offer reduced property taxes for managed forests and there are other incentives at federal and provincial levels.
Message de/from
M. CLAUDE LEVAC
Casselman, une communauté qui a du cœur Projets pour la municipalité: * Projet de construction domiciliaire de 629 résidences au nord ouest de la rivière qui débutera à la fin de l’automne * Étude payée par les Comtés-unis pour rédiger , en 2015, une entente de partenariat entre Casselman et la Nation dans le but favoriser le développement économique des deux municipalités au sud de la 417; * Projet de construction du biodigesteur ( Anaerobic digestion)pour faciliter le traitement des eaux usées à Casselman; * Maintenir une situation financière saine dans le but de favoriser le remboursement de la dette de 8.2 millions de dollars. Casselman is a caring community Projects for the municipality: *Residential construction project, 629 residences north west of the river starting at the end of fall *Study paid by the United Counties for a partnership agreement between Casselman and the Nation in order to promote economic development between the two municipalities south of the 417 *Construction project of a biodigester to facilitate the treatment of waste water in Casselman. *Maintain a healthy financial situation in order to reimburse the debt of $8.2 millon
Ils reçoivent chacun 100 $ en bon d’achat de Roxanne Bourdeau de la Coopérative d’Embrun.
Pour d’autres renseignements, suivez ma page Facebook: Claude Levac Casselman For further information, follow my Facebook page: Claude Levac Casselman
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