Analysis of a wood production strategy from expert perspectives

Abstract

In 2020, Quebec adopted a strategy to increase the quantity and quality of timber it produces. During a roundtable discussion held in the fall of 2021, experts in forestry and in related fields expressed their views on the new strategy and its implementation challenges. The main purpose of this article is to present the key observations from the roundtable. The observations addressed two themes: the general context in which the strategy was developed, and the context of its implementation on the ground. Although most of the panellists agreed on the relevance of such a strategy, particularly as regards to climate change mitigation and wealth creation, several questions remain. The challenge of harmonizing uses, regionalization, spatialization of management decisions, labour shortage, and uncertain ecosystem dynamics make it difficult to assess the strategy’s potential impact on the ground and its ability to achieve its targets.

Sustainability Impact Assessment of Forest Bioenergy Value Chains in Quebec (Canada)—A ToSIA Approach

“…Quebec already relies on a mature and structured forest industry with a trained workforce. The government has also enacted over the years policies and strategies aimed at the optimization of forest resources and the development of new products, including bioenergy and bioproducts [55]. The likelihood that biomass feedstock can be mobilized for energy production over the next years, given that the right policies and actions are put in place, is, therefore high.…”