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Huron County council received an update regarding the Forest Conservation By-Law.
Forest Conservation Officer Dave Pullen shared the information during Wednesday’s council meeting.
Three cases from 2023 involving land clearing have been resolved with convictions and substantial fines.
The first incident happened in Central Huron, while the other two were in Huron East. The fines that were doled out between the three events totaled $790,000.
The purpose of the Forest Conservation By-Law is to have proactive consultation with landowners prior to removal of trees to help ensure compliance. The approach has been effective at helping property owners to manage woodlots in a sustainable way over the long term, as well as maintain forest cover in Huron County.
The by-law was first enacted in 1947 and known as the “tree by-law”. Since then, it has protected woodlots and woodlands within the county.