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WEATHER
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Industry
Forestry The forest is the economic base of Kapuskasing. The Gordon Cosens Forest consists of approximately 75% softwood, primarily black spruce which feeds both sawmill and newsprint industries employing many workers directly and many more indirectly. The balance of the forest is made up of hardwood, mainly aspen. There are two forest management units in the vicinity: the Gordon Cosens Forest and the Hearst Forest Management Unit. The Gordon Cosens Forest is the largest, accounting for over 2 million hectares. It is operated by Spruce Falls Inc. which, along with third party operators, harvests 1.2 million cubic metres of wood fibre annually as part of a program based on sustainable yield. The largest forest companies in the immediate area are Spruce Falls Inc. in Kapuskasing, which manufactures newsprint (Tembec Paper Group) and lumber (Tembec Forest Products Group). Tembec Spruce Falls Incorporation Incorporated in 1926, Tembec - Spruce Falls Operations administers newsprint and lumber manufacturing facilities. It produces approximately 400,000 metric tonnes of newsprint and publishing paper annually which consists of up to 40% recycled matter. The company also produces stud grade lumber used primarily in home construction and renovation. Tembec's mission for Spruce Falls is to maintain low-cost, yet profitable forest goods through the manufacture of competitive quality publishing and printing papers, as well as solid wood products, while protecting the environment and creating positive long-term social, cultural and economic benefits. In an agreement with the province, Tembec - Spruce Falls Operations manages its own forest and harvests black spruce within limits extending over more than 2 million hectares. The newsprint is in fact produced from black spruce, ideal for such use because of its long fibre, and from de-inked recycled material. In 1991, employees purchased 52% of the controlling interest in the company with another 7% acquired by members of the Kapuskasing community. The remaining 41% shares were in the hands of the Quebec-based Tembec Company. In March 1997, Tembec acquired all of the shares of Spruce Falls, making it a Tembec Company. Reforestation Reforestation has always been an important activity for the local forest industry, particularly Spruce Falls Inc. which planted its 200 millionth black spruce in 1998. Helping to meet this demand is the Northern Clonal Forestry Centre in neighbouring Moonbeam. The cloning centre is based on advanced technology which quite literally clones superior black spruce stock to better ensure a stronger, larger and taller forest. |
