Logging will no longer be allowed in all but one of Manitoba's provincial parks - starting this spring.

Existing logging operations will be phased out of the parks, and no new logging plans will be approved.

Logging will continue in Duck Mountain Provincial Park. The complexity of agreements with commercial harvesters in Duck Mountain Provincial Park will not allow operations to end at this time. Mills and jobs are completely dependent on the wood supply.

“This is an historic step forward in our government’s efforts to preserve and protect the environment and support our rapidly growing recreational and tourism industry,” said Premier Gary Doer. “Previous governments have issued long-term tenure to logging companies in provincial parks. The province has moved to take action to reverse this course, in partnership with industry.”

The move means logging operations will stop this April 1 in the Whiteshell, Nopiming, Clearwater, and Grass River River Parks.

The two big logging companies impacted by the change are Tembec and Tolko. They will now see long distances between cutting areas on Crown land and their mills, meaning higher travel costs.

To compensate both companies the province is making a one-time payment of $3 million. That money reflects the fact they've built roads and bridges in former park cutting areas they will no longer be able to use.

Sources:
Province eliminating logging in provincial parks (Winnipeg Free Press)
Province proposed historic changes to preserve provincial parks for future generations - New legislation would phase out commercial harvesting from Manitoba Parks: Doer (Manitoba Press Release)