New Brunswick's Lumber Industry
In full support of United Nation's declaration that 2011 is the
International Year of Forests, New Brunswick has chosen to centre
its annual Heritage Week on the theme of Celebrating Forests for
People. As the province celebrates its exceptional forests,
attention should also be drawn to another unique aspect: heritage
sites. With over 1500 registered historic sites, New
Brunswick's efforts have made noteworthy locations more accessible
to Canadians. Naturally, as a province with a wealth of
specific natural resources, New Brunswick has several prominent
heritage sites that encompass the history of its forestry.
For New Brunswick, the lumber industry has always played a major
economic and cultural role. Quality timber is a staple
resource throughout the province's history; each era can be viewed
in terms of its significant relationship with the industry.
Though the use of wood has evolved over time, its necessity has
remained consistent. From tall pine ship masts to house
frames and furniture, wood has serviced New Brunswick both locally
and internationally through an effectively executed export
system.
As a versatile natural resource, New Brunswick lumber has serviced
many different uses over the years. Perhaps one of its most
significant historical functions was in partnership with the
shipbuilding industry. Not only did New Brunswick contain a
vast supply of valuable lumber, but it also had access to methods
and technology to process the wood. At times, there were
ships made almost entirely of New Brunswick lumber exporting loads
of even more New Brunswick product. What is sometimes
referred to as the "Golden Age of Sail", the
nineteenth century took full advantage of the extensive New
Brunswick forests. Remains of shipyards such as Beaubears Island NHS highlight the economic
importance of shipbuilding during the nineteenth century.
Perfectly situated along the Miramichi River, Beaubears Island NHS
was the second largest shipbuilding centre in New Brunswick during
its time. With so much of the population employed in the
lumber and shipbuilding industry, shipyards such as this were
incredibly significant to nineteenth-century New Brunswick.
Certainly one of the most well-known historical operations that
fuelled New Brunswick's success in lumber industry is the method in
which logs were transported through connected waterways - more
commonly referred to as log driving. The combined efforts of
the traditional log driving system and local mills produced enough
processed wood to export any surplus. Such rivers as the
Tracadie are representative of the expansive water network of that
at one time would have been filled with freshly harvested logs each
spring. Located along the Tracadie River is the Former Foster Mill Site, an excellent example
of the lumber industry's influence on local New Brunswick
areas. During its prime in the early twentieth century, the
Former Foster Mill Site provided many jobs for local residents as
well as newcomers in search of stable employment. The
economic boom that followed can be credited to the mill's
success. As a result, numerous additions were made to the
surrounding area such as new residential buildings, logging camps,
public facilities, and an expanded railroad.
In modern times New Brunswick has continued to value its forests for their industrial
worth as well as their environmental importance. The Heritage
Week theme of Celebrating Forests for People is an example of New
Brunswick's ongoing environmental projects. Similar to the
goal of the United Nations, New Brunswick's Heritage week will draw
attention to forestry issues. Currently, New Brunswick has numerous
protected areas evenly distributed throughout the province as well
as nine provincial parks and two national parks. Accessible
and well-maintained, New Brunswick's parks are attractive
destinations. For example, residents and tourists alike can
enjoy Glenwood Provincial Park's natural beauty. Established
in 1935, Glenwood Provincial Park is the first of its
kind in New Brunswick. Efforts to expand both conservation
and protection are evident through local and government support,
consequently increasing the appreciation of forests and their
resources.
In partnership with various internal organizations, New
Brunswick's forestry policies are extensive and influential.
A major environmental collaborator that works with the provincial
government is New Brunswick's native population which consists of
15 First Nations communities. Together, the two associations
collaborate in forest management agreements. Native
specialists work closely with the government to sustain
environmental goals without withdrawing support from the thriving
lumber industry. In November, 2010, the Government of New
Brunswick held a provincial Forestry Summit to address critical
issues to ensure future success as well as to strengthen the
biggest sector of their economy. Hopes are high that the
coming years are a positive experience for the forests of New
Brunswick.