AFR: Your latest issue of Atlantic Forestry does an excellent job of bringing out the importance of the people on the ground, both in the forest and in the mill, with the ability to adapt to the needs of the client. The scary part is the lack of such people today in so many places in Atlantic Canada where big industry has swallowed up the local forests and hauled them away to high-production facilities.
I believe we need to begin by tallying up the total number of present forestry-related jobs in each province, and compare it with years gone by, and then use this to help to interest our young people in getting back on the land in our communities. The workers and the supporting mills need to be nearer to the forests involved, so that we can have smaller interventions more often. To replace even a part of the clearcutting presently going on will require a heck of a lot of people on the ground, and a lot of smaller gear.

Charles Jess
Yarmouth, N.S.

AFR: Small correction: in the July issue, in “Sawdust in the Blood” (by Ania Swiatoniowski, page 14), the author says Melanson is in the Annapolis Valley. Melanson is actually in the Gaspereau Valley.
Love the mag! As a woodlot owner, I appreciate the info in it. Keep up the good work.

Michael Fairn
Middleton, Annapolis Co., N.S.