Forest Conservation: An Analysis of Crown Forest Sustainability Act and Endangered Species Act for Ontario

0Running head: FOREST CONSERVATION
Forest Conservation
Name of the Student
Name of University
Author’s note

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FOREST CONSERVATION
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
1994 Crown Forest Sustainability Act.............................................................................................2
Key elements of CFSA................................................................................................................3
Outcome after 20 years................................................................................................................6
2007 Endangered Species Act for Ontario......................................................................................8
Main aspect of this law................................................................................................................8
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................12
References......................................................................................................................................13

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FOREST CONSERVATION
Introduction
The great treasure of our planet is biological diversity that is a comprehensive collection
of social, economic, ecological, cultural and intrinsic value. Some of the essential contribution of
biological diversity towards human life is foods, clothing, and medicines thus overall it acts in
favour of sustainable economic and social development. Unfortunately throughout the world,
species of plants, animals and other organisms are getting critically endangered or extinct. The
extinction of this species is majorly due to the human activities like damage of habitat and hence
in order to conserve the biological diversity, global actions are required1. In regards to the
conservation of the biological diversity and global acts, the following report aims to analyse
some of the major aspects of two of the notable environment conservation acts of Ontario.
1994 Crown Forest Sustainability Act
Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA) 1994 was laid out by Ontario Cabinet and is
considered as a bold vision for a new approach to forestry. It lays out the most sophisticated
vision for the public forests of Ontario. The core pillar of this law is sustainability which not only
ensures sustainable utilization of the natural resources but also lays a concrete plan to strengthen
the economy of the community via proper utilization for the forest resources2. Ontario was at the
center stage of the said policy when this law was passed in the year of 1994. The main goal was
to ensure long-tern health to the ecosystem of forest that will be beneficial for both the local and
national environments and thereby enabling current and upcoming generations to satisfy their
social and material needs3. The importance of the act is, it produced a balanced between the
1 Canhos, Dora AL, et al. "The importance of biodiversity e-infrastructures for megadiverse countries." PLoS
biology 13.7 (2015): e1002204.
2 Robson, Mark, and Troy Davis. "Evaluating the transition to sustainable forest management in Ontario’s Crown
Forest Sustainability Act and forest management planning manuals from 1994 to 2009." Canadian Journal of Forest
Research45.4 (2014): 436-443.
3 Crown Forest Sustainability Act, 1994. Ontario.Ca, 2017, https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/94c25.

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FOREST CONSERVATION
requirement for the wooden products along with the protection of old forests, wildlife diversity
and other associated recreation. Thus it stressed on the necessity of satisfying the requirement for
proper wood supply as well promoting diversification of the employment in the forestry sector
via providing renewable goods from the forests4.
Key elements of CFSA
Increasing the responsibility of MNRF towards sustainable management of forestry products
The responsibility to satisfy the objectives of CFSA lies within the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Forestry (MNRF). In order to make sure the sustainability of the forest, it is the
job of MNRF to bestow proper leadership and provide detailed oversight to the forest industry
through special developmental programs and policy. It is also falls under the duty of MNRF to
scientifically monitor the sustainable management of forestry while enforcing proper
conservation rules5. CFSA envisages one of the main roles for MNRF to support the forest
industry of Ontario, and primary responsibility of MNRF to protect the requirement of forest
development communities of Ontario along with long-term sustainability of forest ecosystems.
Theoretically it can be stated that CFSA shifted the role of MNRF from a narrow focus to a wide
focus with “triple bottom line”.
Proper Management Planning
Under this Act, MNRF divides forests in Ontario into different forest management units.
These units are geographic areas of manageable-size that are designed to be governed via
4 The Crown Forest Sustainability Act, 1994: 20 Years Later. 1st ed., Environmental Commissioner Of Ontario,
2014, http://docs.assets.eco.on.ca/reports/environmental-protection/2013-2014/2013-14-AR-CFSA.pdf
5 Crown Forest Sustainability Act, 1994. Ontario.Ca, 2017, https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/94c25.