ONTARIO IMPLEMENTS NEW FOREST FIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
TORONTO - The Ontario government is introducing a new forest fire management strategy to ensure safe and prosperous communities, Natural Resources Minister David Ramsay announced today.
"As the 2004 forest fire season approaches, we are gearing up to safeguard against wildfire," said Ramsay. "Our new forest fire management strategy is an important step forward in taking a more balanced approach to forest fires and making Ontario a world leader in forest fire management."
The new strategy will continue to focus on protecting human life, property and natural resources against the threats of wildfire, while also emphasizing the positive effects of fire as a management tool in achieving ecological objectives.
Under the new strategy, several forest management units north of Highway 11 will receive more protection. The strategy also gives Ontario's resource managers greater flexibility in responding to fires while ensuring public safety remains paramount, and recognizes the natural role of fire in the environment by allowing fire to be used to reduce hazards and accomplish ecological goals. For example, it promotes the use of prescribed fire to restore ecosystems or to reduce hazards in areas where trees have blown down.
The former fire management strategy, prepared 15 years ago, no longer reflects the changing demands and complex land uses and plans that have developed in Ontario since then. The new strategy is consistent with a commitment made in the Ontario Forest Accord to increase levels of fire protection for developing forest management areas. It's available on the ministry's website at http://affm.mnr.gov.on.ca/spectrasites/internet/affm/fire.cfm.
"As we prepare for the fire season, the public's co-operation in using fire wisely and safely around their properties, or elsewhere, and in complying with fire advisories is invaluable," said Ramsay. "The public can help us ensure that we have safe and vital communities with a quality of life that is second to none."
Backgrounder: "ONTARIO IMPLEMENTS NEW FOREST FIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY.
Contact:
Ginette Albert
Minister's Office
(416) 314-2212
(647) 227-5747 (Cell)
Jonathan Wilkinson
Ministry of Natural Resources
(705) 945-6671
