Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods

Establishment of a Forestry Centre in Corner Brook
BACKGROUNDER

• This major initiative which is receiving a total of $5-million dollars of Economic Renewal Funding, was announced earlier this year.
• The Centre for the Management of Sustainable Forest Ecosystems will provide an opportunity for integrated research and planning of governments, industry, and educational institutions in the province. The primary goal will be to achieve sustainable management of the forest resources, through a multi-stakeholder approach.
• The Centre, which will be housed in a new building, will bring together three programs:
  1. The Canadian Forest Service (CFS) which has 30 professional, technical and post-graduate staff, will be housed in this Centre, conducting research on forest ecosystems. Centre staff will also be researching strategies for advancing sustainable development.
  2. The Western Newfoundland Model Forest, which is currently located in Corner Brook. The model forest is a shared effort of Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, Abitibi-Price, the City of Corner Brook, Humber Environment Action Group and the Centre for Forestry and Environmental Studies of West Viking College, Wildlife Division of the provincial government, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Forest Service.
  3. The two-year forest diploma program of Memorial University, which is being transferred from the St. John's campus to Sir Wilfred Grenfell College. The Centre will compliment the degree program in environmental science currently offered by the College.
• The Centre is expected to begin construction in October of this year and see completion by July 1997.
• Budget allocations of $3-million for this year and the balance of $2-million for 1997/98.