PR campaign hopes to cut backlash against forestry
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Renfrew County is throwing its support behind a new publicity effort battling an ongoing backlash against the forest industry.
The REAL Tree Hugger campaign, launched March 1 by the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA), seeks to bring attention to the importance of the forestry industry to the economy of the province, to the survival of rural towns and communities as well as its ongoing role in maintaining the forests themselves.
It is hoping to convince the Ontario government to take into greater consideration the impact on local economies and communities before they make decisions on legislation, regulation or policy affecting forestry.
Jeff Muzzi, the county's forestry services manager, told the development and property committee recently he feels the campaign is an excellent opportunity to support rural and Northern Ontario municipalities and the forest industry.
He said he is recommending the committee urge the county to back this, and staff be allowed to support the campaign locally with the distribution of buttons, postcards and other materials as provided.
"This is kind of a push back against the anti-forestry people," Muzzi said in a later phone interview. Using the phrase REAL Tree Hugger on materials like buttons and post cards is a quick and easy visual, which can be used to open up a dialogue with others.
"It gives you a chance to give some positives about the forestry industry," he said. "I think it is a great way to support the industry and its good sustainable forestry practices."
In a letter sent to Renfrew County seeking their backing of the campaign, NOMA President Ron Nelson stated the forest industry has been under attack by environmental groups for many years, noting recent activities by some environmental groups appear to assign a higher value to the environment than they do to economic and social development needs.
In response, NOMA has launched the REAL Tree Hugger community support campaign to raise the profile of the importance of a successful forest industry for communities. The group states it fully understands the importance of sustainable forestry to ensure the ongoing support of jobs in their communities.
It defines a REAL Tree Hugger as a person who knows that sustainable forestry Renews and replenishes the ecosystem; promotes Economic growth; Accumulates more carbon; and is the Lifeblood of communities.
"The campaign will send a message to provincial leaders to remind them of the importance of ensuring balance is maintained between economic, environmental and social impacts when creating and amending Ontario's regulations and legislation," Nelson stated.
The campaign has a website realtreehugger.wordpress.com. as well as a Facebook account www.facebook.com/realtreehugger, and a Twitter account @noma_nwo #realtreehugger.
Stephen Uhler is a Daily Observer multimedia journalist