WHEREAS the Agroforestry Development Centre has provided trees to landowners on the prairies for over 100 years; and

WHEREAS hundreds of millions of trees have been produced at the Agroforestry Development Centre and provided free to landowners to plant around yard sites and in field shelterbelts; and

WHEREAS the value of shelterbelts in reducing wind and water erosion, carbon sequestration and providing wildlife habitat are well known; and

WHEREAS in 2012 some 3.5 million trees were sent to 7,000 landowners across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta for planting; and

WHEREAS in 2012 some 700 miles of field shelterbelts were slated for planting; and

WHEREAS the Government of Canada has announced funding for the Agroforestry Development Centre at Indian Head will end in 2013; and

WHEREAS there was no consultation regarding the closure of the Agroforestry Development Centre and no plan to ensure the centre will continue to exist;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM urge the Government of Canada to continue to fund the Agroforestry Development Centre at Indian Head, Saskatchewan.