Logging on Public Lands
Québec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP) strongly opposes the Québec Timber Production Strategy announced in December 2020 by the Ministre des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs (MFFP). We have been questioning the government while taking multiple actions to limit its impacts on maple operations on public lands and the maple economy in general.
We call on the government to:
- Set aside 200,000 hectares of public forest for sustainable, coexistable activities, such as maple syrup production, to safeguard its future for at least the next 50 years.
- Rescind the new 24-centimetre tapping standard, which would eliminate 1.8 million of the 9 million taps currently in operation on Crown land.
- Reorganize the Tables locales de gestion intégrée des ressources et du territoire (TLGIRT) to better recognize the important role maple producers play in the regions.
Chronology of the taken actionS
December 17, 2020
Communiqué : Québec Maple Syrup Producers Outraged by Announcement from Minister Pierre Dufour
February 11, 2021
Communiqué : Québec needs 168 Million Taps by 2080 and a Silvicultural Approach that respects the Forest Capital of our Sugar Bush
August 25, 2021
- Letter to the minister
- Communiqué: Québec Government’s Forest Management Practices Endangering Future of Maple Syrup Industry and our Forest Resource
- Summary Statement: Impacts de la Stratégie nationale de production de bois sur l’acériculture au Québec
- Summary Statement: Chantier Désiré – De la planification à la réalisation
- Video: Chantier Désiré – Bonne coupe, bad coupe
November 10, 2021
Québec Maple Syrup Producers (QMSP) held its semi-annual general meetings for the organization and the Joint Plan on November 10th in Lévis. Forests, Wildlife, and Parks Minister Pierre Dufour came to make various announcements, including the addition of 2.1 million taps to public lands. Mr. Dufour addressed the meeting and several QMSP delegates questioned him directly about the quota allocation process for public lands, the new tapping standard on public lands, and protections for Québec maple production.
Summary of Minister Pierre Dufour’s Statements at Semi-Annual Meeting
May 25, 2022
QMSP held its Annual General Meeting on May 25, 2022 in Drummondville. Forests, Wildlife, and Parks Minister Pierre Dufour attended, announcing public consultations on the Ministerial Master Plan for the Development of Maple Production in Public Forests. The consultations ended on July 26, 2022.
June 22, 2022
Communiqué: The Future of Maple Syrup is Being Decided Today
June 30, 2022
Letter of comment for maple producers (to be personalized and sent to MFFP for the consultations)
July 26, 2022
End of public consultations and release of communiqué.
QMSP used the last month to fully explain the maple industry’s issues and submit proposals for a better coexistence of public forest usage to the consultations. The organization tabled its brief and regional chapters shared their comments and observations with MFFP.
August 19, 2022
New Summary Statement: L’avenir du sirop d’érable est en jeu
August 30, 2022
Publication of the study Évaluations des retombées économiques de l’acériculture québécoise en 2020
Communiqué: Maple Syrup is a Billion-Dollar Québec Industry
September 8, 2022
- Communiqué: Protecting 200,000 Hectares of Public Forest: Maple Producers Want Answers from CAQ and QLP
- Video Our public forests, a collective good (in French)
January 31, 2023
March 10, 2023
Number of companies, taps on private and public lands, and quotas by region of Québec in 2020, in production
Production status of companies in Québec, as of 2021
