Two sides are looking for direction from Chatham-Kent Council as the contentious issue of clear-cutting is set for discussion at Monday's municipal meeting.
The municipality released its results from Chatham-Kent's woodlot survey last week, in which the community voted almost unanimously in support of the preservation of woodlots. There were differing opinions, though, on how that should take shape.
Chatham-Kent's General Manager of Community Development Bruce McAllister says he believes more research on the topic is needed and that is why municipal staff is recommending the temporary clear-cutting by-law be extended for another 120 days until December 14, 2021.
“Council can re-evaluate the status in December as there is a significant amount of work that needs to be undertaken," reads the report set to go to council on Monday.
After reading the report, Kent Federation of Agriculture president Jay Cunningham said the KFA is hopeful council will be able to come up with a solution that does not include a ban on clear-cutting.
"We would rather see council take the Natural Heritage Strategy and if it needs improvements, we would like to be involved in that," said Cunningham. "We would much rather fix something that is already working rather than a whole new set of regulations."
Cunningham said the group is not in favour of a bylaw of any kind.
"We would like this resolved and we would like no bylaw," said Cunningham. "What's in existence now, works."
The report going to council also recommends a Natural Heritage Advisory Committee of Council be established to "further facilitate the exchange of ideas between Council and the public with respect to protecting natural heritage features and maintaining, restoring, and improving Chatham-Kent’s natural heritage system."
However, those in favour of a woodlot by law, feel the establishment of a committee like that is not enough to protect tree coverage in Chatham-Kent.
Andrea O’Rourke is a founding member of the CK Woodlot Preservation group, which was formed several years ago when the issue first went to the council. She said council needs to take things a step further.
"I think it would be lovely yet idealistic to think that all we need is voluntarily measures, incentives, and other things that we would hope solve the problem without having to tell people what to do and regulate," she said. "I don't think that's enough to do it based on the market that forces deforestation."
O'Rourke also said the needs of the CK Woodlot Preservation group can't be ignored.
"I think to solve the problem, we can't ignore the needs of both sides, including the farmers who own woodlots and have kept them so well for so many years," she said. "We can do better than what we have been doing."
Monday night's council meeting is set to start at 6 p.m. and the Woodlot Preservation Motion is expected to draw multiple deputations.
