Forestry Management Planning

Forest Management Planning is essential for ensuring the long-term health of the forests on Crown land. A Forest Management Plan is prepared in accordance with the Crown Forest Sustainability Act and the Forest Management Planning Manual for Ontario. The plan outline strategic directions and objectives for the sustainable management of all forest-based values such as plants, wildlife, water, soils, air, social and economic values, including recreational values and heritage values. Plans provide the authority to carry out forest management activities including road access, timber harvesting and forest renewal, tending, and protection treatments.

Forest Management Plans are written for a twenty year period and renewed every five years. The twenty year planning horizon provides for the necessary continuity in management; the five year term provides for the means for reporting progress in management, and for reviewing and improving twenty-year forecast. Plans are prepared and implemented by a plan author (a registered professional forester) in collaboration with the local citizens committee and a planning team including experts in disciplines such as forest management, parks and recreation, fish and wildlife, biology, ecology, inventory and analysis and aboriginal representatives. Public involvement is a key component to the development of the forest management plan. Members of the public are informed and invited to participate in the planning process through a formal public consultation at various stages of the plan.

St. Marys Paper Corp plays a significant role in forest management planning and implementation on the Crown lands in the Algoma Region. As a partner company in the sustainable forest licence on the Algoma and Northshore Forests, St. Marys Paper Corp. has direct input into the planning, harvesting and renewal activities covering over 2 million hectares of Crown land. This enables the company to direct long term wood supply strategies on these forests and ensure the forest is managed in a sustainable, ecological, social, and economic manner.