New Brunswickers place environmental values ahead of the industrial harvesting of forests, suggests a government-commissioned survey released on Wednesday.

Approximately 57 per cent of the respondents said the forest industry has too much control over forest management in New Brunswick. About 56 per cent also said that the economic contributions of the forest industry do not outweigh environmental impacts, and 58 per cent said the amount of timber cut in forests is too high.

According to the survey, 54 per cent of respondents said the current forestry practices in the province will have long-term negative effects on the environment.

"New Brunswick is saying the protection of water, soil and wildlife is the overwhelming priority for forest management," said David Coon of the Conservation Council of New Brunswick.

"New Brunswickers want to see the public forest on Crown lands managed quite differently than what the government seems to be thinking about," Coon said.

The mail survey was conducted in 2007 and included 1,500 respondents.

About 44.5 per cent of the respondents ranked the protection of water, air and soil as the most important value when dealing with New Brunswick's forests. Using forests for economic wealth and jobs was ranked third, with 17.6 per cent of the respondents placing it as the most important consideration.

Natural Resources Minister Donald Arsenault said the government will take the survey results into account when it determines the province's new forestry policy.

A task force on wood supply is currently developing recommendations on new forest management alternatives.

"Our government is dedicated to balancing New Brunswickers' genuine respect for the environment with a sustainable forest industry that provides jobs for our people," Arsenault said.