Prince Albert Daily Herald
Trees to act as an ecosystem buffer for key areas around the community
Katie Leason, geographic information systems (GIS) coordinator, Cumberland Wood Products, drops off the tree seedings to the Cumberland House Cree Nation. Submitted photo
Pulp and paper company Paper Excellence, which is headquartered in Richmond B.C., has partnered with Cumberland Wood Products (CWP) to plant 1,000 jack pine seedlings in and around Cumberland House.
Jack pine trees are a native species to Saskatchewan, providing a habitat for many plant and animal species. The seedlings planted this year are to provide a natural “ecosystem buffer” for key areas around the northern Saskatchewan community, and to naturally enhance regrowth on Cumberland House Cree Nation territory.
In a news release shared on Thursday, the Cumberland House Cree Nation Chief Rene Chaboyer announced the band was taking steps to protect the Saskatchewan River Delta and in doing so, his nation was taking steps toward economic sovereignty.
The chief of the Cumberland House Cree Nation and band council signed a declaration to protect the Saskatchewan River Delta and to assert their rights to manage the environment and industrial development that affects the delta.