CHATHAM — A local tree lobby has pushed through, by a 11-7 vote, a temporary bylaw that bans clear-cutting in Chatham-Kent, which has one of the lowest areas of tree coverage in the province.
Local environmentalists say their main goal is to protect woodlots. Kent Federation of Agriculture president Jay Cunningham pointed out that this means they want to infringe on the rights of what landowners can do on their own property. The ban interferes with how farmers do business, he said. He added that he believes that local council can reach an agreement that both sides can live with.
Area farmer Bill Parks told Blackburn News that people who want trees are free to buy 100 acres and plant them.
