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

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-2- In the months ahead, we shall be endeavoring to continue our program of recruitment of new full-time faculty members. We do not expect tiiis to be an easy task because of a number of problems, including non-competitive salary levels, a national shortage of potential instructors having an adequate background of education and experience, and the generally unfavourable con- ditions under which universities are now obliged to function. Looking at the national and provincial forestry scenes, one is aware that the winds of change are blowing briskly. At the federal level, it appears that, although the Canadian Forestry Service, as such, has virtually disappeared into the Ministry of the Environment, a national forestry advisory committee is beginning to give serious attention to the need for the definition of a national policy on forestry. The British North America Act, of course, conferred ownership of forest lands and resources upon the provinces. Through corporation and personal taxes, however, the federal government is a principle beneficiary of the exploitation of forest resources in the provinces. One could argue, then, that it has a major responsibility for insuring the main- tenance of the productivity of the forests by financial measures and cooperation with the provinces. During the past several years it has become apparent that traditional timber licensing systems, little changed from those first developed in the middle of the last centry, will undergo significant change. The abolition of such licenses in the province of Quebec, the establisliment of a forest authority in New Brunswick, and more recently, in Ontario of the Algonquin Forestry Authority presaged the assumption of governments of increasing control and responsibility for forest resources exploitation activities. One can but hope that we are not witnessing the initial development of burgeoning govern- mental bureaucracies which will have the effect of increasing the cost of timber harvesting without significant improvements in the value of the wood produced or in the environmental consequences. For better or for worse, it appears that forest management, and most of the activities which fall under the umbrella of management will become a crown monopoly in most if not all provinces. It is regretable, indeed, that the forest industries, long ago, did not choose to exercise better stewardship of the large areas of public forest land en- trusted to them under long-term licenses. In the north western region of Ontario there is a growing belief that current and projected levels of timber harvesting will soon approximate the calculated allowable annual cut for the region. Predictions of potential timber shortages for some wood-using industries are heard. This possibility, when considered together with proposals by vociferous environmental groups for the setting aside of decidedly large, single purpose, wilderness areas, indicate a need for a much intensified application of forestry techniques, practices and principles, without delay. There is no doubt, in my mind, that we are entering a most challenging and stimulating period for forestry in Ontario. The opportunities for graduates to carry into practice the theories and techniques acquired in the lecture room, laboratory, and in the field, are now better than at any time heretofore in the history of forestry in Ontario. Until recent years, the apparent limitlessness of the forest resource in the Boreal region constituted,

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CHAIRMAN ' S REMARKS Once again, I am pleased to avail myself of this opportunity to address a few remarks to the readers of the Lakehead Forestry Harvest. The publication of the first LUFA yearbook, in 1972, marked the first step taken by the students in the School of Forestry in the development of a yearbook marked by progressive annual improvements in content and format. This trend parallels the growing awareness of the importance of forestry both in Lakehead University, and in the region. In the 1974-75 academic year, more than 430 students were enrolled in the forestry programs. Although this was the largest enrollment experienced to date, current projections indicate that an even larger number will be seeking forestry education at Lakehead University in 1975- 76. Although the rising interest by increasing numbers of young people in careers in forest resources management is gratifying to a profession which regarded itself as essentially invisible and unknown, until recent years, severe strains are being imposed upon our staff and facilities. Forestry education came of age in Lakehead University at a time when our provincial government adopted a policy of freezing further construction of university buildings and facilities, and when enrollments in other faculties and departments were beginning to decline. In consequence, during the past several years, both funds and suitable space have not been readily provided, ' with the result that the expansion of the School, commensurate with rising enrollments and curriculum improvements, has been seriously impeded. Our difficulties have been further increased by problems in the recruitment of new full-time faculty members. Thus, our ability to offer courses in some subject areas of current interest to many students, such as land classification, land-use-planning, and forest recreation has been severely restricted. We were pleased to welcome three new full-time faculty members to our School in 1974, in the persons of Messrs. A. Fedkenheuer, T.G. Liber and D.A. Mead. They have assumed academic and administrative responsibilities, and will bring new strength to our School in a number of subject areas. We were greatly saddened during the year by the loss of two veteran foresters of wide knowledge and experience who had joined our staff on retiring from their previous full-time positions. Our special lecturer, Mr. S.T.B. Losee, had assumed responsibilities for the teaching of Descriptive Dendrology in the degree program. He died suddenly while conducting a student excursion on the first day of field school. This serious loss for our School was compounded in the first week of the second term by the sudden death of Mr. J.K. McEwen. With the assistance of our faculty members and the co- operation of the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Toronto, we were able to effect some major changes in course responsibilities, and to continue to function in spite of the loss of these two highly esteemed foresters. During the past year, we have been engaged in the preparatory phases of a Master ' s program in forestry. It appears probable that we shall be authorized to offer this program, for the first time, commencing in 1976. A high level of interest has been shown in such a program, both by our own graduates, and by others, and there is no doubt that adequate numbers of students will be attracted to it. .

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-3- in itself, a major psychological deterrent to the commitment of significant efforts to forest management. The attitude towards our forests was expressed in 1965 by a Canadian writer, Edward McCourt, who said: The Canadian shield is fascinating country of enormous wealth, but there is too much of it. Too much rock, too much prairie, too much tundra, too mucli mountain, too much forest. Above all, too much forest. Even the man who passionately believes that he shall never see a poem lovely as a tree, will be disposed to give poetry another try after he has driven the Trans-Canada highway. Although this notion lingers on in the minds of some people, there are now few foresters who are prepared to argue that adequate forests for the future can be ensured by the simple, traditional process of liquidating the remaining wild forests and entrusting their renewal to unassisted natural processes. Twenty years ago such an attitude was commonly held amongst members of the profession. We have advanced, at least, beyond that stage! In Ontario increasing responsibilities for forest management have been assumed by a large bureaucracy, the Ministry of Natural Resources. Within the multitudinous layers of responsibility in this organization, the new, enthusiastic graduate will encounter, at an early stage in his career, the dead weight and frustration of organizational procedures, red tape, and inertia. For one who becomes frustrated under these conditions, the temptation is strong to resign and go elsewhere. Such action may or may not prove beneficial for the individual, but it does nothing to assist the organization in the improvement of performance. In the challenging period in which we now find ourselves, high levels of professional competence, dedication, idealism, courage, and persistence remain the prime requisites of all those who go forth from Lakehead University to improve forestry practice in Ontario, or elsewhere. Ko W. Hearnden, Chairman School of Forestry