[CANUFNET] Closure of Ontario Tree Seed Plant

Tue Nov 21 15:31:57 EST 2017

Hello CanUFNet members,

While seed management is somewhat outside of the realm of urban forestry, and this particular issue applies only to Ontario for the time being, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s decision to close the Ontario Tree Seed Plant is a significant issue for future reforestation and climate change mitigation efforts. This affects us all.

Please see the note below from the Forest Gene Conservation Association and consider signing the petition to the Ontario Government to reconsider this decision: https://www.change.org/p/kathleen-wynne-save-the-ontario-tree-seed-facility.

Message from FGCA:

The imminent closure of the MNRF's Ontario Tree Seed Plant threatens the future of Ontario reforestation and afforestation, both challenging, necessary activities which climate change and IAS are making even more necessary and complex. If MNRF took the ?time to understand the complexity and significance of the Seed Plant and its services they would be urging the government to show leadership, and not only maintain, but ?ramp up their investment in tree seed to help buffer the effects of climate change and IAS?.

The decision is based solely on costs - a matter of 1 or 2 million $ annually ?- an extreme example of 'penny wise and pound foolish', made by a few ignorant and arrogant bureaucrats. I use those words not as insults, but as true descriptors of their handling of this issue. They are counting on the private sector taking over, without having consulted with them. More significantly the speed at which they propose to close the Plant and its services does not give enough time for the private sector to react.  Whether the private sector chooses to or even can replace the full suite of long term societal benefits is the real question.

Tree seed banking is being managed by perhaps a few dozen highly skilled people across Canada.  Few people know about it and even ?most of those take it for granted.  So we are in desperate need of raising awareness of the issue, of the risk of this decision, and of the potential that? informed leadership can have for our future.

Again please consider sending this out to your network and beyond.  And let me know if you have any questions.  There is additional information on our website at www.fgca.net<http://www.fgca.net/>

Sincerely

Barb Boysen
General Manager

Forest Gene Conservation Association
275 County Rd. 44
Kemptville, ON.
K0G 1J0

NOTE - the above is a change of address effective February 2017

fgcaontario at gmail.com<mailto:fgcaontario at gmail.com>
www.fgca.net<http://www.fgca.net/>

Thank you for your consideration,

Nancy

Nancy Young, RPF | Forester| Forestry Services Branch | City of Ottawa
• 100 Constellation Crescent, Ottawa, ON, K2G 6J8 |
• 613-580-2424 Ext 13581 | Fax: 613-580-2611
• nancy.young at ottawa.ca | þ City of Ottawa - Trees and community forests<http://www.ottawa.ca/en/env_water/tlg/trees/index.html>
[roundForestry2Cbil]

Subject: Petition · Kathleen Wynne: Save the Ontario Tree Seed Facility · Change.org

https://www.change.org/p/kathleen-wynne-save-the-ontario-tree-seed-facility
Petition · Kathleen Wynne: Save the Ontario Tree Seed Facility · Change.org<http://change.org/>
There are no forests without seed.
After 94 years of invaluable contribution to reforestation and for the public good, the Ontario Tree Seed Facility is scheduled to close in September 2018.The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry proposes that tree seed collection, processing and storage be left to the private sector.
This decision was made internally by the OMNRF with no public consultation and came as a shock to municipal officials, forestry stakeholders, the community and environmental organizations.
This contravenes Premier Wynne's stated goal: "We want to be the most open and transparent government in the country."
Both public and private sector experts have vehemently disagreed with the internal government decision and have expressed their concern:
·  "This decision takes Ontario in a direction opposite to jurisdictions who recognize tree seed processing and banking as an essential social service to help adapt to climate change."
·  "We had hoped that [the OTSF] would not only continue, but be enhanced, in service to Ontario's forests, which face the triple threats of overdevelopment, invasive alien species and climate change." (Forest Gene Conservation Association)
 AWARE Essa and the Friends of Utopia Mill and Park respectfully request that Premier Kathleen Wynne and Minister Kathryn McGarry:
1.       Put on hold any actions on the closure of the Ontario Tree Seed Facility.
2.       Begin a comprehensive public review to explore innovative ways to revitalize the OTSF. This review should include:
·  expert analysis of the real value of the Tree Seed facility and the vital service it provides in seed collection, processing and storage. Tracking seeds by seed zones gives native trees a genetic link to local conditions that improves forest resiliency
·  an assessment of the  key role that OTSF plays in mitigating and adapting to climate change and increasing habitat to promote biodiversity
·    recognition that the private sector alone cannot meet the challenges of ensuring the resilience of Ontario's forests
·  acknowledgment of the unique expertise of Ontario Tree Seed Facility staff in tracking seed source and processing tree seeds
·  recognition of the significance of the Ontario Tree Seed Plant and its founders in Ontario's history
For more information:
http://aware-simcoe.ca/?s=ontario+tree+seed+facility
http://atreegrows.wixsite.com/treetales/home
www.utopia.on.ca<http://www.utopia.on.ca/>
http://fgca.net/save-ontarios-seed/
Two Billion Trees and Counting: The Legacy of Edmund Zavitz, John Bacher, Dundurn, 2011

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