Canada's
National Forest Strategy as outlined in
the 1992 document "Sustainable
Forests - A Canadian Commitment"
set out in broad terms what is needed to
achieve sustainable forests nationwide.
One of the primary strategic directions
included efforts to encourage forest
stewardship and use of the best forestry
practices. A specific goal under this
strategy (#2,20) committed signatory
governments to encourage the
establishment of legislation regarding
the professional practice of forestry
and the registration and accountability
of professional foresters.
As a follow up to this goal, in 1993,
the Newfoundland government approached
the Newfoundland Section of the Canadian
Institute of Forestry (CIF) and asked if
their membership would be interested in
investigating the feasibility of
creating a Registered Foresters
Association in this province. Based on
this request, the Newfoundland Section
established as ad hoc feasibility
committee which researched the
organization, legislation and finances
of existing RPF Associations in Canada
as well as those of other professional
associations in Newfoundland and
Labrador. They also gauged the interest
of foresters in this province regarding
the creation of an RPF Association.
Their research revealed a strong
interest, however there was also a
definite opinion that establishment of
such an organization would likely be to
the detriment of the CIF membership
(i.e. most would join RPF and not CIF).
The Question then became, how can an RPF
Association be created which is
affordable and not detrimental to the
CIF in Newfoundland. The approach
formulated was to put forward a request
to the provincial government to grant
the Newfoundland Section of CIF
authority to designate people as RPF's,
based on criteria used by RPF
Associations in other provinces.
This
prompted the establishment of a second
committee to develop the objectives,
requirements and procedures for
designation of RPF's by the CIF / IFC in
Newfoundland and Labrador. The Advisory
Committee consisted of both members and
non-members of the CIF / IFC, affiliated
with the government and private
interests within the forestry community
of Newfoundland and Labrador.
A
report representing the consensus of the
advisory group as to the basic criteria
for professional designation, detail on
the structure, and procedures for the
operation of an RPF Program in
Newfoundland was presented to the
Minister of Forest Resources and
Agrifoods, the Honorable Beaton Tulk in
June 1996.
On
July 18, 1996, the Minister approved the
program as outlined in the report and
offered his support for the initiation
of the Registered Professional Program
in Newfoundland and Labrador.
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