SAPAWE FOREST INDEPENDENT FOREST AUDIT MANAGEMENT UNIT ACTION PLAN

Transcription

1 SAPAWE FOREST INDEPENDENT FOREST AUDIT MANAGEMENT UNIT ACTION PLAN P a g e 1

2 Table of Contents Action Plan Signature Page... 3 Prepared by:... 3 Submitted by:... 3 Approved by:... 3 INTRODUCTION... 4 RECOMMENDATIONS... 4 Recommendation #1:... 4 Recommendation 2:... 5 Recommendation 3:... 6 P a g e 2

3 Action Plan Signature Page Prepared by: Renee Perry Area Forester MNR Atikokan Area, Fort Frances District John Bagacki General Manager Rainy Lake Tribal Resource Management Inc. Submitted by: Greg Chapman District Manager MNR Fort Frances District Approved by: Allan Willcocks, R.P.F. Regional Director MNR Northwest Region P a g e 3

4 INTRODUCTION In August 2012 an Independent Forest Audit (IFA) was conducted on the Sapawe Forest for the period April 1, 2007 to March 31, Forests Branch was notified of the Forestry Futures Committee s acceptance of the report as being final on January 3, The action plan is due March 4, The final audit report for the Sapawe Forest includes 3 management unit recommendations. Recommendation #4 directed at corporate MNR will be addressed in the separate 2012 Provincial Action Plan. For each management unit audit recommendation this action plan outlines the actions required, responsibility, timelines, and method of tracking progress of actions. Sustainable Forest License # that was in place at the start of the audit period was returned to the Crown on August 10, Since MNR Fort Frances District was then responsible for management of the Sapawe Forest for the remainder of the audit period, all the audit recommendations addressed in this action plan were directed at the District MNR. On April 30, 2012 a License to Harvest Forest Resources # (FRL) was issued to Canada Ltd. for a period of up to 5 years from May 1, 2012 to March 31, The company name has since changed to Rainy Lake Tribal Resource Management Inc. (RLTRMI). The Enhanced Forest Resource License includes the condition to complete an action plan for the IFA. Therefore, responsibility for actions required in this action plan identifies RLTRMI and MNR where appropriate. RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendation #1: The OMNR District must ensure that an amendment is made to the 2010 FMP concerning the Sky Lake Road as directed by the District Manager s Issue Resolution Decision. Actions Required: 1. MNR and Rainy Lake Tribal Resource Management Inc. will meet with the Resource Based Tourism Operators that are directly affected by the Sky Lake Road timing restriction amendment. 2. Rainy Lake Tribal Resource Management Inc. will submit the amendment to the MNR for review and approval. MNR will assist in the draft of the amendment as required as outlined in the District Manager s Issue Resolution Decision. P a g e 4

5 Organization and Position Responsible: 1. MNR, Fort Frances District, Atikokan Area, Area Forester and Rainy Lake Tribal Resource Management Inc., General Manager. 2. Rainy Lake Tribal Resource Management Inc., General Manager; MNR Fort Frances District Atikokan Area Forester and District Manager. Deadline Date: 1. April 1, Amendment Submission, MNR review, any revisions completed by RLTRMI, MNR approval all completed by Dec 31, 2013, with recognition that an earlier completion date is desired if possible. Method of Tracking Progress: 1. Record of meeting. 2. Actual submission/review and approval of Amendment on the FI Portal. Recommendation 2: The OMNR District must ensure that tending treatments are effective, are conducted in a timely manner, and where needed are implemented at multiple times during the development of the stand. The backlog in area requiring treatment must also be addressed. Actions Required: 1. A total of 4000 hectares were identified as backlog area and aerial tended with herbicide during the 2012 Annual Work Schedule operations. 2. The need to use a combination of both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters during spray operations or just a fixed-wing aircraft will be assessed in conjunction with adjacent forest units to ensure the program is completed in a timely manner. During 2012, RLTRMI planned to use the aircraft combination during the aerial spraying of 4000 hectares of backlog area, identified in action # 1, in order to successfully complete all areas without total dependence on helicopters. However, the fixed-wing aircraft completed the entire spray program in a timely manner with excellent coverage. This approach worked well and will continue to be assessed as a viable option for timely spray interventions in the future. 3. As a good silvicultural practice to enhance plantation survival, newly established plantations that require herbicide tending will be scheduled for aerial herbicide operations, when planning allows, one year after establishment. 4. Plantations that are identified as requiring an herbicide treatment will be scheduled for aerial tending one year after identification. 5. Herbicide tending results will be assessed the year after application to assess the effectiveness of the herbicide application. 6. Areas with unsatisfactory herbicide spray results will be promptly added to the Annual Work Schedules to ensure a timely and effective tending intervention. P a g e 5

6 Organization and Position Responsible: 1. MNR Fort Frances District Atikokan Area Forester and Rainy Lake Tribal Resource Management Inc., General Manager. 2. MNR Fort Frances District Atikokan Area Forester and Rainy Lake Tribal Resource Management Inc., General Manager. 3. to 6. Rainy Lake Tribal Resource Management Inc., General Manager. Deadline Date: 1. Completed September 20, Completed September 20, 2012 and ongoing annually. 2. to 6. Beginning with the AWS and ongoing annually. Method of Tracking Progress: 1. Annual Reports will document the backlog areas sprayed. 2. Annual Reports will document the amount of aircraft type use by area. 3. AWSs and Annual Reports will indicate what plantations need/received herbicide tending one year after establishment. 4. AWSs and Annual Reports will indicate what plantations need/received herbicide tending. 5. Assessment records. 6. AWSs and Annual Reports. Recommendation 3: The OMNR District Manager must ensure that the Action Plan and Action Plan Status Report responding to IFA Recommendations are completed within the specified timeframe. Actions Required: 1. MNR Fort Frances District, Rainy Lake Tribal Resource Management Inc., NW Region and Forest Branch will develop an Action Plan production and review schedule beginning with the Draft Final Report to ensure the Action Plan is submitted prior to the deadline. 2. MNR Fort Frances District, Rainy Lake Tribal Resource Management Inc. and the NW Region will develop a Status Report production and review schedule prior to the deadline and develop, review, and submit the Status Report according to this schedule. Organization and Position Responsible: 1. MNR Fort Frances District, Atikokan Area, Area Forester; Rainy Lake Tribal Resource Management Inc., General Manager; MNR Northwest Region Forest Program Specialist, MNR Forests Branch Provincial Forest Evaluation & Reporting Forester. 2. MNR Fort Frances District, Atikokan Area, Area Forester; Rainy Lake Tribal Resource Management Inc., General Manager; MNR Northwest Region Forest Program Specialist. P a g e 6

7 Deadline Date: 1. Completed November 27, 2012 and updated December 14, 2012 after receipt of final audit report. 2. Schedule developed at least 3 months prior to the Status Report due date as determined by MNR Forests Branch based on Action Plan approval date. Method of Tracking Progress: 1. Actual production/review schedule; submission of action plan by submission due date. 2. Submission of status report by submission due date. P a g e 7