Forestry Research Advisory Council of Canada Annual Report for 1988

Abstract

This report covers the 1988 calendar year. During the year, the Forestry Research Advisory Council of Canada focussed on several issues, but three stand out.Firstly, it became clear to the Council that there is an emerging consensus about the importance of forestry research in Canada and the need to involve industry more in the planning and executing of research as increasing demands are made on the resource and environmental concerns grow.Secondly, the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers convened a national forestry forum in Edmonton entitled "Innovation and Technology: Science in the Forestry Sector." Its 13 recommendations, endorsed by the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers, will be carefully studied by all forestry research organizations in Canada.Finally, representatives of the provincial and territorial forestry research advisory groups completed a plan for the preparation of a national overview and synthesis of forest research priorities and views in 1989.Council wishes to make the following recommendations to Forestry Canada:1. Forestry Canada should continue to provide a very brief annual, year-end communication to FRACC, providing in point form, information on actions taken on FRACC recommendations made at the close of the previous year.2. Considering the broadly based support for the action plan stemming from the 1988 national forestry research forum in Edmonton, Forestry Canada must ensure that the recommendations are implemented in the Forestry Canada program.3. Forestry Canada should encourage and strengthen forest resources oriented activities of the Forest Sector Advisory Council and by using research advisory structures increase that Council's understanding of the importance of forest resources research.4. Forestry Canada should ensure that in negotiating the next generation of forestry agreements, due attention is paid to planning and executing the very important research components so that they are clearly recognized and planned and managed to ensure the information produced is readily available across the country.5. Forestry Canada should intensify its efforts to disseminate research findings from all sources through joint sponsorship of seminars and workshops.6. Council recommends that Forestry Canada continue to seek innovative means to foster an enhanced and sustained input to forest management research by the forest-based industry.7. Forestry Canada should encourage the use of industry "assistance in kind" by working with Revenue Canada to ensure that industry participants in such programs are fully eligible for favourable tax treatment for such research.8. Forestry Canada should try to mitigate the potential negative effects of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and its regulations on forest research.9. Forestry Canada must continue to press the federal Treasury Board for a significant upward adjustment in its base funding for the operation of its research program. Funding from Forest Resource Development Agreements should be considered incremental to the base funding of the Forestry Canada program.10. Council agrees with the general tenor and thrust of the recently approved Forest Insect and Disease Survey Strategic Plan that provides for a shift away from routine surveys to research, but recommends that Forestry Canada maintain and enhance its leadership in conducting workshops and technology transfer seminars on specific pest problems.11. Forestry Canada should expedite completion of its planning document for biotechnology research. Forestry Canada must be able to collaborate actively in this important research area.12. Forestry Canada should complete and widely distribute its strategic plan for spruce budworm research as soon as possible.13. Forestry Canada should make greater use of economics criteria in research evaluation and planning, and developing improved methods for analysing forest land management options.In 1989, Council will organize its work under three headings. Concerning research and development, the essential part of its mandate, Council will 1. focus on a review of current Forestry Canada programs; 2. continue to investigate means for increasing industry's involvement in research; 3. study and recommend how the research inventory work initiated by Dr. Kayll can be used and regularly updated; 4. continue to study Forestry Canada operating and maintenance funding and make recommendations as appropriate.On policy and planning, Council will 1. review and advise Forestry Canada on the CCFM research forum implementation report; 2. review and comment on future plans for Forestry Canada regarding organization, legislation, facilities, research program and the research planning process.Regarding the research advisory process, Council will 1. establish closer communications with the Forest Sector Advisory Council and other national advisory groups, including those for the Petawawa National Forestry Institute and the Forest Pest Management Institute of Forestry Canada, the Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada, Forintek and the Pulp and Paper Research Institute of Canada; 2. continue to work with the provincial and territorial forest research advisory bodies to provide a national overview of priorities and viewpoints for the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers.