Chapter 18 - Environmental policy and forest soil conservation: Canada's experience to date

Abstract

Abstract In this chapter we review how policies affecting forest soil conservation are applied in Canada. We consider how jurisdictional (provincial and territorial) forest management policies are primary drivers of forest soil conservation, and how those may be either derived from or augmented by additional policy instruments such as third-party forest certification, and federal or international policy. Although jurisdictions address common priorities such as protection of soil physical properties or maintaining productivity, the diversity in soil properties, forest types, and forest practices across Canada results in a broad range of policy articulation and implementation. We find that forest soil conservation policy plays a supporting role to forest management policy, and question whether: (i) existing policy approaches are currently sufficient to maintain soil quality and forest productivity; if yes, (ii), will these policy approaches continue to lead to sustainable management of forested landscapes in the future; and if not (iii) what changes to current policy approaches are needed to better manage forest resources today and into the future. We review a range of policy instruments in which soil conservation concerns are addressed, for example federal and provincial forest management policy, sustainable forest management certification standards, and the Criteria and Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management developed by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers. We conclude that forest soil conservation in Canada is an outcome of jurisdictional forest management, certification, or other policies, and not a leading instrument. There is some overlap among these objectives, however, there is not a coordinated approach to forest soil conservation. While current policies are rigorous and support current societal demands, proof of effectiveness for forest soil conservation is not broadly available. Further, under evolving environmental conditions, improved knowledge, and increased societal demands for ecosystem goods and services policy will need to be adjusted to account for these changes.