Forest Management Planning in Northwestern Ontario
Ontario's forest managment planning sytem for Crown forests is guided by the Forest Mangement Planning Manual. This manual provides direction in the development of forest management plans for each management unit defined by a Sustainable Forest License. Forest management plans contain long-term management direction over a ten year period and take approximately two years to complete from start to finish. Detailed operational planning is undertaken for the first five years as part of the initial planning process with further detailed operational planning for years 6 to 10 occuring during year 5.
Public involvement and consultation is a key aspect of the forest management planning process. Several opportunities for public participation exist including:
formation of a Local Citizens Committee comprising a range of stakeholders to assist and engage the planning team in the development of each forest management plan
formal consultation processes such as information forums and opportunities to review and comment on planning documents as well as opportunities for direct consultation with affected stakeholders
provisions for special consultation efforts with Aboriginal people
Public involvement throughout the forest management planning process can be generalised into five stages:
Notification of forest management planning initiation, and invitation to participate.
Review and comment on proposed long-term management direction, and options for harvest areas and roads
Review proposed harvest, renewal and tending operations as well as proposed roads. This stage allows the public to inspect how plans will protect an array of values.
Review and comment on draft plan and the results from the MNR's review of the draft plan.
Inspection of approved plan.
Renewal Schedule
The following schedule outlines forest management plans throughout northwestern Ontario that are either under preparation or set to enter implementation within two years. Information on the lead MNR District and the forest company that holds the Sustainable Forest License is also provided. Implementation is commonly scheduled for April during the implementation year, and invitations to participate are issued approximately two years (between January and May) prior to plan implementation.
Plans Scheduled for Implementation in 2006
Black Sturgeon Forest, Nipigon District - Bowater Canadian Forest Products Inc., 2001 Neebing Ave. Thunder Bay ON P7E 6S3
Dryden Forest, Dryden District - Dryden Forest Management Inc., 28A Earl St., Dryden ON P8N 1X5
Kenora Forest, Kenora District - Weyerhaeuser Company Limited, Bag 4004, 175 West River Road, Dryden ON P8N 3J7
Lac Seul Forest, Sioux Lookout District - McKenzie Forest Products Inc., Box 428, Sioux Lookout, ON P8T 1A5
Lake Nipigon Forest, Nipigon District - Norampac Inc., Box 480, Red Rock ON P0T 2T0
Pic River Ojibway Forest, Nipigon District - Great West Timber Ltd., Box 29037, McIntyre Centre, Thunder Bay ON P7B 6P9
Spruce River Forest, Thunder Bay District - Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada, P.O. Box 10160, Thunder Bay ON P7B 6T7
Plans under Preparation and Scheduled for Implementation in 2007
Caribou Forest, Sioux Lookout District - Bowater Canadian Forest Products Inc., 2001 Neebing Ave. Thunder Bay ON P7E 6S3
Crossroute Forest, Fort Frances District - Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada, 145 Third St., Fort Frances ON P9A 3N2
Lakehead Forest, Thunder Bay District - Greenmantle Forest Inc., R.R. # 1, 25th Sideroad, Thunder Bay ON P7C 4T9
Plans Commencing Preparation in 2006 and Scheduled for Implementation in 2008
Ogoki Forest, Nipigon District - Long Lake Forest Products Ltd., Box 29037, McIntyre Centre, Thunder Bay ON P7B 6P9
Red Lake Forest, Red Lake District - Red Lake Forest Management Company Ltd., Box 1338, Red Lake ON P0V 2M0
Wabigoon Forest, Dryden District - Weyerhaeuser Company Limited, Bag 4004, 175 West River Road, Dryden ON P8N 3J7
Plans scheduled for renewal in 2009
English River Forest, Dryden District - Bowater Canadian Forest Products Inc., 2001 Neebing Ave. Thunder Bay ON P7E 6S3
Trout Lake Forest, Red Lake District - Weyerhaeuser Company Limited, Bag 4004, 175 West River Road, Dryden ON P8N 3J7
Whiskey Jack Forest, Kenora District - Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada, P.O. Box 10160, Thunder Bay ON P7B 6T7
