Weyerhaeuser continues gathering public input on future plans

“We just like to get these plans out in front of the public as early as we can so we can start talking about what they’re interested in learning about, the areas that they recreate in and use, and get their feedback on our forest management strategy so that we can put them into the plan.”

Carter says the only revision to the current plan will be which areas will be harvested.

“We’re not revising any of our forest management strategies. Those are all staying the same, and we are just introducing the next 10 years of harvest to the public.”

Carter says the company will cut about the same number of trees and hectares every year.

Weyerhaeuser has also planted about 12 million trees this year.

“Every hectare that we harvest, we do replant and get it growing again within two years of harvesting it,” adds Carter.

Carter says the goal is to plant two trees for every one that is cut down.

She adds attendees at the Grande Prairie open house included members of the public interested in forest management, along with trappers, outfitters, people who like to quad and camp in the forest, and those from the snowmobile association.

Some teachers also came out. High school students can take classes in forestry.

Carter says it is nice to see young people interested in forestry, as it can have trouble finding new employees. She adds it is nice to see youth who care about the environment and are interested in forest management.

by Curtis Galbraith