Getting Started:
An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Presented by Northwatch and the Forest Project Team
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
What is The Forest Project?
A Northwatch initiative to:
• increase public involvement in the forest
management planning process
• support the work of Local Citizen Committees
• develop a network of forest management
planning participants across northeastern
Ontario
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Workshop Outline
• The northeastern
Ontario forest
• Forest Health
• Some Environment &
Forestry Concerns
• Forests & Our Economy
• Forest Management
Planning
• Wrap-up
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
• The northeastern
Ontario forest
• Forest Health
• Forest Management
Planning
• Some Environment &
Forestry Concerns
• Forests & Our Economy
• Wrap-up
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
The northeastern Ontario forest
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
The northeastern Ontario forest
Boreal Forest
Part of a band of forest circling the northern globe, the firedriven boreal forest is the largest forest region in Ontario.
Boreal softwoods:
• jack pine
• black and white spruce
• balsam fir
Shade intolerant
hardwoods:
• aspen
• white birch
• poplar
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
The northeastern Ontario forest
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Forest
Despite two centuries of logging, some remnants of
the original Great Lakes St. Lawrence forest
remain, showcased by often dramatic topography.
• sugar maple
• white and red pine
• red and white oak
• hemlock
• ash
• poplar
• yellow and white birch
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
The northeastern Ontario forest
MNR Regions
Forest Eco- Regions
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
The Algoma Forest
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
The North Shore Forest
Northshore Forest Management Unit is located in
Northeastern Ontario. Major communities within the unit
are Thessalon, Iron Bridge, Blind River, Elliot Lake,
Massey, Webwood and Espanola.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Northshore Forest
• Approximately 60% of the land base is Crown Land.
• Northshore Forest is situated primarily within the
Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest region. A transition
to Boreal forest conditions can be seen in its northern
limits.
• The forest supports tree species such as Red, White
and Jack Pine, Spruce, Poplar, White Birch and
Maple.
• Major firms receiving wood from the Nortshore Forest
include St. Marys Paper Ltd., Domtar Forest Inc.,
Forestply Industries Inc., Midway Lumber Mills Ltd.,
and Birchland Veneer.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Northshore Forest Management Plan
2005 -2025
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Five year planned harvest area 48,408 ha.
Total site preparation area forecast 12,940 ha.
Total renewal area forecast 43,645 ha.
Total tending area forecast 9,750 ha.
No new primary roads are planned.
There are 86.7 kms of reclassified secondary roads
(reclassified from tertiary roads) and 47.5 kms of
newly planned construction for a total of 134.2 kms
new secondary roads.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
• The northeastern
Ontario forest
• Forest Health
• Some Environment &
Forestry Concerns
• Forests & Our Economy
• Forest Management
Planning
• Wrap-up
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Health
Factors affecting forest health can include:
• Changing Forest Landscape
conditions
• Changing Biodiveristy
• Changing Atmospheric
Environment
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Health
Healthy forests
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recreation and tourism opportunities
genetic diversity - plants, animals
soil stability
air and water quality
aesthetics
local economies
habitat for animals
outdoor laboratories for
scientific study
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Health
Environmental services
Forests provide many
valuable ecosystem or
environmental services,
including climate
stabilization, carbon
storage, protection of
hydrological function, and
biodiversity conservation.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
• The northeastern Ontario
forest
• Forest Health
• Some Environment &
Forestry Concerns
• Forests & Our Economy
• Forest Management Planning
• Wrap-up
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
• Roads
• Old Growth Forests
• Clearcutting
• Forest
Fragmentation
• Herbicide Use
• Sustainability &
Biodiversity
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
Roads
May affect the forest’s health by:
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compacting soil
altering water flows
leading to soil erosion and sedimentation of water bodies
acting as entry points for invasive exotic plant species
changing wildlife movement and behavior such as breeding and
migration routes
increasing fishing pressure on some lakes
changing predator / prey relationships
causing road kills which may impact
on the population of some animals
fragmenting ecosystems
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
Some Environment & Forestry Concerns
• Roads
• Old Growth Forests
• Clearcutting
• Forest Fragmentation
• Herbicide Use
• Sustainability &
Biodiversity
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
Old Growth Forests
• Old Growth Forests maintain
biodiversity, provide critical
habitat, are valued for tourism
(wilderness experiences)
• Forests store carbon in trees, woody
matter, soils and trees. Old growth
forests store more carbon than
younger, smaller trees.
• Old Growth Forest contain a
diversity of forest species not
found in young forests.
• Old Growth Forests are an important
source of scientific and ecological
information
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
• Roads
• Old Growth Forests
• Clearcutting
• Forest Fragmentation
• Herbicide Use
• Sustainability &
Biodiversity
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
• Clearcutting may cause soil degradation and
erosion, changes in water quality, nutrient losses
and loss of biodiversity, and may drastically alter
forest habitat and wildlife behaviour.
• Clearcutting has also been shown to change
snow accumulation and melt and to increase the
fire hazard.
• Clearcutting is the method of harvesting used in
88% of forestry operations in Ontario.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
“Clearcutting … is a
massive experiment
on public lands.”
Environmental Commissioner
of Ontario, 2002
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
• Roads
• Old Growth Forests
• Clearcutting
• Forest
Fragmentation
• Herbicide Use
• Sustainability &
Biodiversity
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
Forest Fragmentation
• Fragments have greater amount of edge for the area of
habitat
• The centre of each habitat fragment is closer to an edge
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
Habitat Corridors
Corridors are safe passage ways for species to travel
between habitat areas in a surrounding area of
inhospitability. They are strips of land that link protected
areas together.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
• Roads
• Old Growth Forests
• Clearcutting
• Forest Fragmentation
• Herbicide Use
• Sustainability &
Biodiversity
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
Herbicide Use
• Use of herbicides to control competing vegetation is
wide spread in forest management in Ontario
• 70,000 - 80,000 hectares are treated with herbicides
each year; approximately 140,000 kg. per year of
glyphosate and about 8,000 kg. of 2,4-D
• Public concerns with respect to affects on:
– Amphibians
– Wildlife
– unknown long-term impacts on the environment
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
• Roads
• Old Growth Forests
• Clearcutting
• Forest Fragmentation
• Herbicide Use
• Sustainability &
Biodiversity
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
An important element of forest sustainability is
maintaining the forest’s biodiversity.
Biodiversity is the variability among living
organisms from all sources including terrestrial,
marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the
ecological complexes of which they are part; this
includes diversity within species, between species and
of ecosystems.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Environment and Forestry Concerns
Aspects of Forest Biodiversity
Structure
Function:
Habitat
Eco-services
Nutrients
Pattern
Composition
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
• The northeastern Ontario
forest
• Forest Health
• Some Environment &
Forestry Concerns
• Forests & Our
Economy
• Forest Management Planning
• Wrap-up
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forests & Our Economy
Forests & Our Economy
Forests contribute significantly to the province's
economic and social well-being.
The forest product industries, the tourism and
recreation sector and the non-timber forest products
producers all rely on the forest for their livelihood,
and contribute to the local, regional and provincial
economies.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forests & Our Economy
Forest Product Industries
in Northeastern Ontario
Of the 84,000 people employed in
the forestry industry in Ontario,
22,500 are located in the North.
•10,600 in forestry and logging
•30,400 in paper manufacturing
•40,200 in wood product
manufacturing.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forests & Our Economy
Wood supply issues
Great – Lakes St.
Lawrence Forest
• Current shortage of
hardwood sawlogs and
veneer
• Current surplus of lowgrade hardwoods
Boreal Forest
• Future wood supply drops
below current demand
• Quality of wood supply
information
• Long term trend toward
declining poplar supplies
• Unregenerated white pine
backlog
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forests & Our Economy
Non Timber Forest Products
Non-timber forest products (NTFP) are botanical products
harvested or originating from forest plants.
NTFP’s include:
• foods (eg. mushrooms, wild rice,
blueberries, maple syrup)
• health and personal care products
(eg. pharmaceuticals)
• materials and manufacturing products
• landscape and garden products
• decorative and aesthetic products
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forests & Our Economy
Tourism in northern Ontario
Northern Ontario is enjoying strong growth in
its tourism sector and has the potential to
substantially increase its share of the global
tourism market.
Resource-based tourism is a key growth area
in the North, including eco-tourism, adventure
travel and Aboriginal tourism.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forests & Our Economy
Recreation in northern Ontario ...
Ontario resident recreation related annual expenditures…
• Wildlife viewing $410 Million
• Recreational Fishing $762 Million
• Hunting $200 Million
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
• The northeastern
Ontario forest
• Forest Health
• Some Environment &
Forestry Concerns
• Forests & Our Economy
• Forest
Management
Planning
• Wrap-up
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest management planning
Forest management planning is ...
A balancing act…
Are we managing the forest sustainably?
• Ecological health
• Economic needs
• Social responsibility
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest management planning
Managing Forests for Timber and
Non-Timber values
Ontario’s Crown forests provide opportunities for
recreation, tourism, wildlife, trapping, hunting
and plant harvesting.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
The Forest Management Planning Manual (FMPM)
FMPM provides direction
for all aspects of forest
management planning for
management units
designated under the
Crown Forest
Sustainability Act (CFSA)
in the Area of the
Undertaking (AOU).
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
A Forest Management Plan (FMP)
A Forest Management Plan deals with three main
categories of forestry activities:
• access (road construction, maintenance)
• harvest (cutting methods)
• regeneration (planting and tending)
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
ACCESS
Types of Road Corridors
Primary road
• the main road system which provides access
for the management unit
• normally permanent part of road system
• regularly maintained
Branch roads
• branch off of primary roads to provide access
to, through or between areas of operation
Operational roads
• provide short-term access within areas of
operation for harvest, renewal and tending
• normally not maintained after they are no
longer required for forest management
purposes
• Often site prepared and regenerated
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
HARVEST
Three types of harvesting systems common in Ontario:
1. clear cut - most or all trees of merchantable value
are usually removed from the site.
2. shelterwood - trees are harvested in a series of two
or more operations.
3. selection - individual trees or small groups of trees
are cut.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
In a clearcut harvest operation, most trees of
commercial value are usually removed from the site.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
In the shelterwood system, mature trees are
harvested in a series of two or more cuts.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
In the selection system, individual trees or small
groups of trees are cut.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
REGENERATION
Regeneration: The renewal of a tree crop by
natural means such as self seeding or by
operations such as planting seedlings or
seeding. Regeneration is a component of
forest renewal.
Forest Renewal: silvicultural work such as tree
marking, site preparation, cone collection,
stock production, tree planting, tending,
protection and regeneration assessments
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Natural regeneration is the
most common method of
regeneration in Ontario,
followed by site
preparation.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Release treatments
– including herbicide
application and
manual tending – is
the most common
tending treatment.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Key Forest Management Planning Participants:
• Government
- Ministry of Natural Resources
- Ministry of the Environment
• Forest Industry
- Sustainable Forest License Holders
- SFL Shareholders, Independent Operators
• First Nations
• General public
- Local Citizens Committees
- Participants in Information Sessions & Tours
- Written Comments and Phone calls
- Groups & Organizations Meetings with MNR / SFL / LCC
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
The Forest Industry
Forest Licensee
The Crown Forest Sustainability Act requires that all
mills consuming > 1,000 m3 of timber must have a licence.
Sustainable Forest
Licences (SFLs)
• Long term (up to 20
yrs)
• Reviewed every 5 years
• Require the licensee to
carry out renewal and
maintenance activities
Forest Resource Licences
(FRLs)
• Short term (up to 5 yrs)
• typically cover portions of
management units and overlap
with an area covered by an SFL
• FRL holders must also must
comply with the CFSA
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Northshore Forest Inc.
• Sustainable Forest License is held by the Northshore Forest
Inc. (NFI)
• Co-operative licence was granted in 1998
• NFI is comprised of four shareholders (St. Mary's Paper
Ltd., Midway Lumber Mills Ltd., Domtar Inc.,and the North
Shore Independent Forestry Association Inc. (NSIFAI))
• Domtar Inc. has been retained under contract to design and
deliver the forest management program for the SFL holder.
• Twenty-nine overlapping licence fees operate on the forest.
NSIFAI represents twenty-one of these licensees.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Local Citizen’s Committees
Provide advice to the MNR District Manager, as well as
providing input on the forest management plan as it is
developed, and then monitoring its implementation.
Membership of LCC’s represent a range and balance of
interests.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Aboriginal Peoples
• MNR is required to negotiate with
Aboriginal peoples to identify and
implement ways for achieving more
equal participation by Aboriginal
people in the benefits of forest
management
• Opportunities are to be provided for
participation of Aboriginal
communities in the forest
management planning process,
including through participation in
the planning team and the
preparation of a detailed Native
Background Information Report and
Native Values maps.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Tourism Industry
Resource Stewardship Agreements
(RSA’s) are developed in a parallel process
which is already underway by Stage One.
Sustainable Forest Licensees and Resource Based
Tourism operators discuss their respective concerns
and agree on certain things like tourism values,
forest management prescriptions and road use
management strategies, and a Resource Stewardship
Agreement is developed.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
An overview of the ten year forest management
planning process:
Phase I
Invitation to Participate
Long Term Management Direction
Proposed Operations
Draft Plan
Final Plan Inspection/Approval
FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Phase II
Proposed Operations
Draft Plan
Final Inspection / Approval
FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Invitation to Participate and Setting Long Term
Management Directions: important first steps in the
forest management planning process
Phase I
Invitation to Participate
Long Term Management Direction
Proposed Operations
Draft Plan
Final Plan Inspection/Approval
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Invitation to Participate
A public notice is issued, inviting the public to:
• identify their interest in the local forest and forest
management planning process
• provide any background information related to the
local forest, and
• share their views on the desired future forest and
benefits.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Long Term Management Directions
…what steps or topics are included?
• The Long Term Management Direction
is developed through a number of steps,
each one building on the previous
• The process is an iterative one; for
example, an earlier step will be
reviewed for consistency with a later
step
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Long Term Management Directions
…what steps or topics are included?
• Describing the forest
• developing a “base (computer) model”
• doing a computer based “scoping analysis” to
evaluate whether the forest is able to meet current
wood supply demand
• determining the desired forest and benefits,
• developing objectives and indicators,
• developing a management strategy, which includes
harvest levels
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Long Term Management Directions
…what steps or topics are included?
• assessing how well the identified objectives have
been achieved,
• making a preliminary determination about whether
the forest will be sustainable,
• identifying primary road corridors
• producing a summary of the long term management
direction for public review
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Long Term Management Directions
…why are they important?
• They set directions and priorities for the
ten year forest management plan (two 5
year operational phases)
• They include the objectives and targets
for the forest management plan
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Long Term Management Directions
…why are they important?
• They include the harvest levels and
renewal targets
• There is a sign-off after the public
review of the Long Term Management
Directions which means it will be hard to
make changes later in the planning
process
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
The Long Term Management Directions provide the
strategic direction for operational planning in Stages 3
and 4 of the forest management plan’s development.
Phase I
Invitation to Participate
Long Term Management Direction
Proposed Operations
Draft Plan
Final Plan Inspection/Approval
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
Issue Resolution Procedure
• If concerns have not been resolved informally,
through meetings and discussions with the planning
team or plan author, a formal process is available to
assist in resolving conflicts.
Steps include:
• writing to the plan author and
• meeting between the plan author and the concerned person or
group;
If not resolved then,
• May be referred to LCC to advise the District Manager
• refer the matter to the District Manager(DM) of the local Ministry
of Natural Resources
• the final stage is discussing the matter with the MNR Regional
Director.
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Forest Management Planning
“Bump-Up” Request
• Individual Environmental Assessment Request
• Minister of the Environment decides on
outcome
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
• The northeastern
Ontario forest
• Forest Health
• Forest Management
Planning
• Some Environment &
Forestry Concerns
• Forests & Our Economy
• Wrap-up
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Workshop Wrap-up
Workshop Wrap Up
• Forest health and forest management are inextricably
linked
• Forest management planning process is built on
public participation
• Early participation is effective participation
• 2010-2030 Forest Management Plan for Northshore
Forest is in the early stages of planning
– information collection this fall
– invitation to participate to be issued early 2008
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Workshop Wrap-up
Contacts
• Northwatch Forest Project
Brennain Lloyd, forests@onlink.net, 497 0373
• Ministry of Natural Resources
Gord Campbell, Area Forester
MNR Blind River Area Office, 62 Queen St, Blind River P0R 1B0
Phone: (705) 356-2234 Fax: (705) 356-7441
• Northshore Forest Inc.
Norm Iles, Plan Author, (705) 842 0985
Bill Moryto, Management Forester, (705) 869-4020 Ext. 265
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Thank you and good night ….
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning
Photography credits
“Things Great and Small”
Larry and Ute Kissau, Limberlost Lodge
And ...
Vijanti Ramlogan Murphy
Brennain Lloyd
Georgena MacDonald
Tim Gray
Ministry of Natural Resources
Sierra Legal Defence Fund
Getting Started: An Introduction to Forest Management Planning