The Future of Maple Syrup is Being Decided Today
Québec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP) has contributed its recommendations to the public consultations launched on May 26 regarding the Ministerial Master Plan for maple syrup production in public forests. The organization urges all people in the province to be informed about what is at stake: the future of an iconic product and thriving industry.
QMSP’s position is that the Master Plan must provide winning conditions for maple syrup production. “We want protection for our forests and maple resources. That means setting aside 200,000 hectares of public forestland for sustainable, co-existent uses such as maple syrup production for the next 50 years, at minimum. The government plans for only 24,000 hectares. That would sacrifice maple trees to the saws of the lumber industry and endanger the future of a Québec way of life, not to mention an economic sector that numbers 8,000 businesses, more than 13,300 producers, and millions of dollars in revenue for Québec. And that doesn’t even include the economic ecosystem that surrounds it,” said QMSP President Luc Goulet.
In addition to the necessary protection of maple forest, QMSP is raising the alarm over the new tapping standard of 24 centimetres, because it would remove 1.8 million taps from the 9 million now in production on Crown land. Furthermore, changes are needed in financial maturity measurements that allow loggers to take out mature maples, which provide syrup producers their highest yields.
Time to Take a Stand
The QMSP president says the future is being decided today: “The way it looks now, it’ll get harder and harder to find maple trees for syrup. That’s not just bad news for the maple syrup industry, it’s bad for anybody who uses our public forest resource. We need to send that message to the government loud and clear, and it’ll take not just community and industry leaders but everybody in the province. This is a world-class product that we export to over 60 countries. Whatever your connection to maple—producer, buyer, processor, supplier, or consumer—it’s time for you to get involved. Join the Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs consultation process and speak up for our heritage,” said Mr. Goulet.
The online consultation continues until July 26.
About Québec Maple Syrup Producers and the Érable du Québec brand
Québec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP) represents the interests of 13,300 maple producers and over 8,000 maple enterprises. Québec accounts for an average 72% of the world’s maple syrup production and exports products to some sixty nations.
QMSP.ca – @AcericoleQc
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