Chatham-Kent council is preparing to tackle the contentious issue of woodlot preservation.
The municipality has one of the lowest percentages of tree cover in all of Ontario, and it’s not getting better due to clear cutting that has been taking place on rural properties.
In years past, the mere mention of debate of a woodlot preservation bylaw has led to a flurry of clearcutting by some property owners.
In a bid to address the issue, Wallaceburg councillor Aaron Hall brought forward a motion to place a moratorium on clear cutting of forests over the next four months while council embarks on a consultation process to take a look at woodlot preservation in Chatham-Kent, including investigating putting in an incentive program for landowners, and possibly bringing in a forest conservation bylaw.
The motion is scheduled to be debated at the upcoming April 26 council meeting.
If it passes, a report with recommendations on updating the municipality’s natural heritage policies and incentives for landowners is expected to come back to council this summer.