Greenmantle Forest Inc - Forest management plan

The forest management plan for the Lakehead Forest for the period of April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2030 is being prepared.

The plan is being prepared in accordance with the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (1994), the Forest Management Planning Manual (2017), and Declaration Order MNR-75 -MNRF's environmental assessment requirements for forest management on Crown lands in Ontario.

The forest management plan will provide for the sustainability of the Crown forest on the management until, and will outline the long-term strategic direction and objectives related to:

• sustainability of the forest resource
• biodiversity
• social and economic matters (including timber harvest levels)
• the provision of forest cover for those values which are dependent on forest cover
• silviculture

Description

The Lakehead Forest is located in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Northwest Region and spans two administrative districts – Thunder Bay and Nipigon. The Forest is administered from the Ministry’s Thunder Bay District office, in the City of Thunder Bay. There have been no significant changes to the boundaries of the Forest since the preparation of the 2002-2022 Forest Management Plan.

The Lakehead Forest occupies approximately 7,668 square kilometres. The area of water within the Forest is 509 square kilometres. Of the land area, 60% is Crown land. It is bordered by other forest management units to the north and east (Dog River-Matawin, Black Spruce, and the Lake Nipigon Forests). The southern boundary follows the shoreline of Lake Superior and the International border with the United States. The western edge abuts Quetico Provincial Park.

The management of Ontario’s Crown forests is the responsibility of the provincial government, and this responsibility is shared with forest products companies or groups of companies and communities. The Lakehead Forest was licensed to Greenmantle Forest Inc., in June 1998, under Sustainable Forest Licence Number 542460. Greenmantle Forest Inc administers its forest management planning activities and operations from its office located in Rosslyn, Ontario.

Other information

Information about the forest management planning process, information which will be used in the preparation of the plan, and background information about the management unit can be reviewed during normal office hours at the Ministry’s Thunder Bay District Office. It is recommended that persons make an appointment for viewing. This background information may also be viewed during non-business hours by making an appointment with the government contact person listed in this notice.

An alternate to the government contact for this notice is:

Phil Brown R.P.F.
Plan Author
Greenmantle Forest Inc.
179 25th Side Road
Rosslyn ON, P7K 0B9
Phone: (807) 939-3136
Fax: (807) 939-1911
Email: cpbrown@greenmantle.ca

Consultation Opportunities

In accordance with the provisions of the Forest Management Planning Manual, formal public consultation and First Nation and Métis community involvement and consultation is planned to occur at five stages during the preparation, review and approval of this plan. The Forest Management Planning Manual sets out that direct written notice is required to be given to certain individuals and organizations at each stage of the planning process; individuals and organizations may request to be added to this list, which is updated at each stage. Media notice is given through advertisements in the local newspaper.

The following is a summary of the public consultation, and First Nation and Métis community involvement and consultation:

Stage One – Invitation to Participate: October 26, 2017

Stage Two – Review of Long-Term Management Direction: March 27, 2019

Stage Three – Information Centre; Review of Proposed Operations: June 4, 2019

There is one other formal public consultation, and First Nation and Métis community involvement and consultation opportunities tentatively scheduled as follows:

Stage Four – Information Centre; Review of Draft Forest Management Plan: November 2019

Stage Five – Inspection of Ministry - Approved Forest Management Plan: April 2020

An approved forest management plan is scheduled for implementation commencing May 28, 2020.

All comments and submissions received for Stages One to Four will be considered as part of the decision-making by the ministry. Under the public consultation provisions and First Nation and Métis involvement and consultation provisions of the Forest Management Planning Manual, a written response will be provided to all written comments and submission and upon request, to all verbal comments received that relate to the Long-Term Management Direction or Proposed Operations. All comments and submissions will become part of the public record. Stage Five is an inspection period only. No comments are being sought at that stage.

There is an opportunity during the forest management planning process to seek resolution of issues in accordance with the process described in Part A, Section 2.4.1 of the Forest Management Planning Manual (2017).

During the 30-day inspection period, tentatively commencing in April 2020, any person may make a written request to the Director of Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, 1st Floor, 135 St. Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON, M4V 1P5, for an individual environmental assessment of specific planned operations in the Ministry-approved forest management plan, in accordance with the process described in Part A. Section 2.4.2 of the Forest Management Planning Manual (2017).