A long-awaited report on woodlot preservation and tree-cutting in Chatham-Kent will be coming back to council on August 23rd.
The report will be made public next week to give those interested in the report some time prior to the meeting, to look at the background information and recommendations. The report will be expected to include information about best practices for woodlot preservation and an incentive program as well as the results of a public engagement survey.
Chatham-Kent has one of the lowest percentage of tree coverage in the province, believed to be around just three to four per cent and is one of the few areas in the province that doesn’t have tree-cutting bylaws.
A temporary tree cutting bylaw enacted at the end of April by council is set to expire Aug. 24. The purpose of the temporary bylaw was to pause clear-cutting, while information was being gathered and public engagement was taking place.