Lakehead University Forestry Association - Yearbook (Thunder Bay, Ontario Canada)

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-3- What, then, are the prospects for our graduates who will go forth from our School in 1974, and the years following, in search of careers in forest resources management? It is my opinion that the possibility for the planned management of our forests, involving a sustained public concern and commitment, cannot but be enhanced by a growing, wide spread public awareness of the dimensions of the forestry problems which confront us. We have not yet begun to manage effectively the forests of this country, and, therefore, great problems, challenges and opportunities lie ahead for all who are prepared to address themselves to the task with unflagging dedication and determination. In 1973, the Association of University Forestry Schools of Canada developed this definition of modern forestry: Modern forestry is the science, business and art of managing and conserving forests and associated lands for continuing economic social and environmental benefit. It involves the balanced management of forest resources for optimum yields of wood products, abundant wildlife, plentiful supplies of pure water, attractive scenic and recreational environments in both wildland and urban settings, and a variety of other services and products. Modern forestry draws upon knowledge and expertise from many disciplines and other professions. It has a vital role to play in the development and implementation of techniques for the management of forest resources. It is my hope and expectation that the opportunities for the practice of modern forestry , as defined here, will prove better than at any time heretofore. Then our staff will have the satisfaction of knowing that what is preached in the School will be practiced by all who go out from our laboratories and lecture rooms to improve forestry practice in Canada. Kenneth W. Hearnden, R.P.F. References (1) Science Council of Canada, Report No. 8, 1970 Seeing the Forest and the Trees . PP-15-18. (2) L. M. Lein, It Could Happen Here . Article in the Log Book , September-October, 1973 (3) National Forestry Conference, 1966, Report on summaries and conclusions. (4) Canadian Pulp and Paper Association, Submission to Hon. Jean Chretien, Minister of Northern Affairs and Northern Development Concerning National Parks Policy, 1971.

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-2- In mid-summer, we were most pleased that the long and valuable contributions to forestry prac- tice and education of our Special Lecturer, Leopold Vidlak, were recognized by the University in his promotion to the rank of Honorary Professor. I should like, now, to look beyond the University to the condition of forestry, generally, in this country. In the early years of the present century, following 100 years of forest exploitation and destruction, predictions of a timber famine were being made by prominent conservationists. These were prompted by the rapid liquidation and disappearance of White and Red Pine stands in southern and central Ontario, and by the injudicious opening for settlement and agriculture of extensive land areas which experience proved should have been maintained under forests. It was in this atmosphere of anticipated timber supply crisis that the first professional forestry school was established in 1907 at the University of Toronto. Sixty-four years later, the 6th, and most recent, professional school in Canada came into operation at Lakehead University amidst new predictions of impending timber shortages. At the first view, we might conclude that, in spite of 64 years of professional forestry edu- cation, Canadian forestry has not been well served. This would be to ignore, however, the un- varying, heedless tendency of man to go from crisis to crisis , and the effects of wood utilization technology which have been to mitigate the depletion of preferred species by enabling the utilization of those previously regarded as of little or no value. Thus, the great sawmilling operations based upon White and Red Pine were succeeded early in this century by the pulp and paper industry which thrived upon the apparently limitless and inexhaustible Black Spruce northern forests. At this time, late in the 20th century, it appears that Poplar is to become the Cinderella species as concerns for our Spruce reserves are expressed. The history of forestry in Canada, it must be realized, is but a repetition of that of all other countries. We are confirming, again, a long established truism that no country is motivated to undertake the planned management and conservation of its forests, until it faces the problems of timber shortages, or experiences other, unfortunate consequences of forest destruction, such as soil erosion and repeated floods. Canada ' s forests have been indiscriminately exploited for 350 years. At no time in that long period, until the past five to ten years, have any serious, large-scale efforts been made by any province to attack the ever increasing problem of forest renewal. Confident that utilization technology would find solutions to the problems posed by the progressive liquidation of one species after another, we have rested serene upon the assurance given us by technology that our timber needs will be met by other species, and, as yet, undeveloped techniques. In the September - October, 1973 issue of The Log Book it is interesting, indeed, to note, in an article by a forester in the employ of a district pulp and paper company, the remark, It looks very much as if what is ahead is a lack of fibre for the mills. There are those who will be quick to protest that the predictions of timber famine, which were heard in the land 70 years ago, proved false. They will insist that current predictions will be found equally invlaid. In any case, it is interesting to note that the pinch of timber shortages for some parts of Canada were anticipated by the National Forestry Conference in 1966. More recently, a study by the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association indicated that no less than 24 mills anticipated wood supply problems within the next decade.

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Honourary Professor On August 15, 1973, the Faculty and Staff members of the Lakehead University School of Forestry held a stag at 18 Peter Street to commemorate the title of Honorary Professor bestowed upon Leo Vidlak by Dr. Booth. In the above picture Leo ' s Technical Assistant Dave Wotton is presenting him with a silver plated planting spade (freshly stolen from the new shipment Leo had just ordered) . The shovel was chosen due to the storage of tennis rackets in the Forestry storeroom, and is a symbol of the outstanding job Leo has performed over his teaching carreer in guiding students into the profession of forestry. RECOLLECTION OF AN OLD FORESTER When a man has been working in forestry for over fifty years, it is time to look back and to ask himself What have you achieved? After surviving the first World War, graduation cum laude and seven years of service in private forestry, I was appointed Senior Manager-Forest-master. Like any other young forester I had more enthusiasm than experience, was very critical of anything old and was determined to change and improve everything. That very week of my appointment, Mother Nature brought me adversity to challenge my arrogance. An unprecendented hurricane destroyed the timber equivalent of four allowable annual cuts in our forest. This event was the introduction and herald of my future stormy life. Salvage of the devastated stands, sales of the rapidly deteriorating timber during the worst of worldwide depressions and reforestation of the devastated areas was completed within three years. What I learned from this disaster was invaluable. I realized how little I knew about forests and forestry and from then on, I never met anyone from whom I could not learn something. In particular, this catastrophe convinced me that mixed, unevenaged stands were more resistant to climatic and biotic incursions than were monocultures. On my management unit 35%-40% of the allowable cut had consisted of salvage fellings (e.g. dead trees, blowdowns or trees damaged by insects or disease). After the consistent, systematic improvement cuts of the first ten years, salvage fellings never exceeded 5% of the annual cut. At the same time I began the conversion of spruce and pine monocultures to mixed stands, using strip, wedge or patch shelterwood systems. Occupation of Czechoslovakia by the Nazis and the outbreak of the second World War made my work much more difficult but my operations went on. Although three times arrested by the Gestapo, I survived the war and in 1945 medals for leadership in the antiNazi underground movement. Promotion in the Czechoslovakian army followed. My happiness did not last very long. After the Communist ' putsch ' in 1948, I was accused of collaboration with the Nazis and with a little bit of luck I was able to escape to the West. The period since my arrival in Canada in January 1951 can be accurately and briefly described: ' from a 50 fr an hour labourer in a nursery to honorary professor of forestry ' . In concluding this brief dossier, I would like to tell my young colleagues - both students and graduates - that the present situation of Canadian forestry is far from perfect but not quite hopeless yet. Don ' t blame others for this bad and sad situation. You are young and you can change it. Good luck! -lv-