Ontario s Forests FOREST MANAGEMENT IN ONTARIO. James D. Steele Forests Branch. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

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1 Ontario s Forests FOREST MANAGEMENT IN ONTARIO James D. Steele Forests Branch Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry

2 Outline Ontario s Forest Resource Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Forest Products and the Environment 2

3 Ontario s Forest Resource - Overview Ontario = million ha Forest = 71.1 million ha Forest = the size of Germany, Italy Netherlands combined Ontario has: 2% of the World s forests 17% of Canada s forests Most common tree species = black spruce 3

4 Ontario s Forest Resource - Overview 27.8 million ha of productive forest (both the AOU + Whitefeather) 9.8 million ha currently in parks and protected areas additional areas under consideration. 4

5 Ontario s Forest Resource Overview Forest management activities defined in the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA) Area of forest managed is larger than area actually available for harvest: Access; Demand; Harvest limitations annual allowable harvest area: 283,500 ha (1.1% of managed forest) average annual harvest area: 115,000 ha (0.4% of managed forest) All numbers are to averages 5

6 Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) 6

7 Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Forest Management Includes: Strategic direction/commitments Legislation/regulations Forest policies & strategies Forest management plans Forest licences Monitoring, evaluation and audits Legislated public reporting obligations Founded on sound science and info Operations can begin 7

8 SFM Planning Requirements come from Forest Management Planning Manual Prepared by a team involving industry, government, local citizens, and Aboriginal communities Prepared for each Forest Management Unit for 10-year period 2-3 years to complete and costs ~$1 million Determines allowable harvest, access, renewal activities Must ensure sustainability while finding a balance of social, economic and environmental values 8

9 SFM Monitoring & Reporting Compliance monitoring Independent Forest Audits Public reporting 9

10 SFM - Forest Renewal Forest renewal carried out by forest industry Prescriptions followed from the approved Forest Management Plan Forest renewal includes natural and artificial methods Funded by two Trusts created through CFSA Forest Renewal Trust Fund Forestry Futures Trust Fund 10

11 SFM - Forest Certification Ontario recognizes 3 Certification Systems 11

12 Forest Products and the Environment Environmental Benefits for Ontario s Managed Forests? 12

13 Forest Products Potential Use and Environmental Benefits Use of byproducts from lumber production Use of logging residues unmerchantable Use of unmarketable Improved implementation of forest management plans 13

14 Ontario s Forests Kiitos

15 Ontario s Forest Resource - Regions Lowlands Wetlands with a component of shrub sized black spruce, white spruce, willow and tamarack. Boreal Forest spruce, jack pine and fir (SPF), birch and poplar (low grade hardwoods) Great Lakes - St. Lawrence a mix of spruce, pines and hardwoods including oak, maple, yellow birch, beech, basswood etc. Deciduous as above plus black walnut, butternut, tulip tree, magnolia, blackgum and sassafras 15

16 SFM Forest Harvest clearcut shelterwood selection 16