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

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compared to only $83 in Quebec and $44 in British Columbia. Ontario ' s forest industry provides 72,000 direct jobs for the province ' s labour force. These jobs generated 125,000 indirect positions in the supply and service sectors. The shipping value of all forest industry products increased to $1.9 billion in 1971. The value added by manufacturing in 1971 represented $883 million and places Ontario as the leader in adding value to each unit of roundwood harvested in the province. An important phase in forest site research was finalized with the publication of a unique set of 11 maps of land-type patterns at a scale of 1:125,000 for Southern Ontario, which can serve as a model for further mapping programs in the province. Tree breeding research has provided a firm basis to launch pilot projects in which hybrid poplars are grown during short rotations of 5-12 years, aimed at satisfying wood requirements of pulp mills in eastern Ontario and providing local farmers with a new source of income. Aspen was formerly regarded as a weed species in northern Ontario, but is now increasing in importance. It has become the subject of intensified silvicultural studies to improve the quality of the trees and their rate of growth. The Algonquin Forestry Act (Bill 155) was passed in December, 1974, and was proclaimed on January 1, 1975. This established the Algonquin Forestry Authority, which will be responsible for harvesting Crown timber in Algonquin Park, pro- ducing logs and providing these to established industry.

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A total of 318,158 acres of Crown and private land received regeneration or tending treatment. This included planting or seeding of 150,225 acres; 131,618 acres being on Crown land. Stand improvement and tending was carried out on 167,9 03 acres of Crown and Private land. A total of 3,249 agreements was made under The Woodlands Improvement Act covering an area of 161,306 acres of private lands. Sixty agreement forests are under management covering an area of 254,652 acres, and 28 Regeneration Agreements are currently in effect with Timber Licensees, mainly in Northern Ontario . In 1973, aerial spraying operations, to control the spruce bud- worm, were carried out on an area of 88,300 acres of Crown land in Northern Ontario. An additional 12,000 acres were treated to control other insects and diseases in the southern part of the Province. During the past decade the volume of Crown wood cut increased by 35 per cent from 376 million cubic feet to 506 million cubic feet annually. Ontario was the first province in Canada to complete an inventory (in 1959) of its forest resources. Since 1960 a program of re- inventory has been instituted. It is designed to maintain an up-to-date record of our forest resources. Ontario ' s forest economy has now reached a level of maturity which exceeds that in other provinces by a wide margin. Level of manufacturing creates more jobs per cunit (100 cubic feet) of wood utilized. Ontario ' s forest industry employs almost as many workers as British Columbia but harvests less than 35 per cent as much wood. For each cunit of wood produced there is a value added by manufacturing of $139 for Ontario

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It may be required to carry out such forestry, land management, and other programs and projects as may be authorized by myself as Minister. On May 1, 1974, changes were made in regulations under The Crown Timber Act relating to Crown dues and wood measurement. The purpose of these changes was to increase revenue from the sale of timber and simplify wood measurement procedures. Currently, a government task force is reviewing the entire revenue field. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources is one of the largest ministries in government. As custodian of nearly 90 per cent of Ontario ' s land and water, our major programs represent a whole bag of services designed to provide both residents and visitors with exceptional outdoor recreational opportunities. One final word. When you ' re using our wealth of natural resources, please leave only your footsteps behind you. Ministry of Natural Resources Ontario