• Home
  • Forestry
    • Enforcement

Enforcement

Enforcement is an integral part of our forest resources management system. Proper enforcement is crucial to maintaining a sustainable ecosystem.

• Forestry
• Agrifoods
• Legislation & Compliance Division
• Complaints of Illegal Activity
• Problem Wildlife/Nuisance Animals Contact Numbers

Forestry

The responsibility of enforcing the province's forestry regulations still lies with the Department of Natural Resources. Successful forestry management includes adequate enforcement and protection programs. These programs help ensure that the public understands and is aware of the various requirements in utilizing our forestry resources in a responsible and sustainable manner.

To carry out enforcement of the legislation and regulations, the Department of Natural Resources has approximately 100 Conservation Officers located at various Regional/District Forestry & Wildlife Offices throughout the province. In addition to enforcing Forestry regulations under the Forestry Act/Regulations, Conservation Officers are authorized to enforce provisions of the Motorized Snow Vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicles Act /Regulations, non wildlife sections of the Endangered Species Act, and the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Act/Regulations.

Copies of these Acts/Regulations are available through the relevant federal agency (see Related Sites) or provincially from:

^ Top of Page

Agrifoods

The Agrifoods Branch of the Department of Natural Resources also has enforcement responsibilities as detailed below:

• Animal Protection Act (Currently Under Review)
  Staff veterinarians (nine in total) are named as special constables under this Act allowing them to investigate complaints of cruelty to animals. Investigations and prosecutions may be carried out in cooperation with the SPCA and the police. Primary role of veterinarians is to act as expert witnesses.
• Livestock Health Act & Regulations (Currently Under Review)
  Staff veterinarians have authority to investigate and control disease outbreaks of public interest (such as rabies).
• Heritage Animals Act (Currently Under Review)
  In cooperation with the Newfoundland Pony Society, there are controls over the export of Newfoundland Ponies from this province.
• Meat Inspection Act
  Primary responsibility for inspecting abattoirs and meat is under the Government Service Centre. Staff veterinarians provide professional support to GSC inspectors; the laboratories provide analytical support for the program; the Director signs licences for abattoirs, provides policy and training support.
• Food and Drug Act (Food Premises Regulations)
  Primary responsibility for inspection and licensing of dairy farms is under the Government Service Centre. Division laboratories provide analytical support; the Director provides policy and interpretive support.
• Lands Act (St. John’s Urban Region Agriculture Development Area Regulations)
  An Authority consisting of at least 5 people is appointed by the Minister to carry out all powers and duties conferred and imposed by these regulations. Primary responsibility is the control of development within the St. John’s Urban Region Agriculture Development Area. One staff person is responsible for this work.
• Lands Act (Wooddale Agriculture Development Area Regulations)
  An authority consisting of at least five people is appointed by the Minister of Natural Resources to carry out all powers and duties conferred and imposed by these regulations. Primary responsibility is the control of development within the Wooddale Agriculture Development Area. This work is the partial responsibility of one employee.

The Department of Natural Resources is a member of Newfoundland and Labrador Crime Stoppers’ toll-free hotline. If you should have any information regarding a crime against our wildlife or forest resources or information pertaining to a case of cruelty to animals, you can call Crime Stoppers with the pertinent information. Calls are anonymous and you may be eligible for a cash reward for information that leads to the conviction of a person.

The number for Crime Stoppers is 1-800-363-TIPS (8477).

^ Top of Page

Problem Wildlife/Nuisance Animals Contact Numbers

The Department of Natural Resources, Forestry and Agrifoods Agency, provides these telephone numbers to report nuisance or problem wildlife, which often involve animals such as black bears and polar bears, coyotes, moose and beavers.

The standby telephone numbers should be used after normal office hours and are as follows:

Eastern Region

Western Region

Labrador Region (South Coast)

^ Top of Page