I am left burning mad about the City of Prince George's proposal to convert 300 square kilometres of forests to farmland in and about Prince George as part of their community "forest" expansion.
Although I support some increase in local agriculture I am concerned about the greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the conversion of forests to farmland.
Cutting down trees without replanting or other reforestation releases significant amounts of carbon dioxide.
Even though there is beetle kill, other species such as spruce and balsam fir on the site will take over, and we can conserve forests for timber and recreational values.
Furthermore, I do not see the rationale of converting forests to farmland when some farms are already being abandoned back to forests in the region.
If we desire a stronger local farming sector, we should support existing farms rather than converting forests to farms. This option would have a lower environmental impact in terms of habitat and carbon pollution.
I also find the rationale for the community "deforest" expansion to be questionable. At least one study found that Mountain Pine Beetle-afflicted stands are no more likely to burn than unaffected stands.
On a final note, if the project proposed by the city were to become the norm for forests near settlement in B.C., we could lose critical corridors for wildlife across B.C.
History shows that deforestation and agricultural expansion led to extirpation of Grizzly Bears from much of their historical range in North America. Local agriculture is beneficial, but let's also consider the other animals we share this land with.
Thomas Cheney
Prince George
