Stage Three: Information Centre - Review of the 2020-2030 Forest Management Plan for the Red Lake Forest

A forest management plan for the Red Lake forest is being prepared for the period 2020-2030.

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 – Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry'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 unit, 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 Red Lake Forest is located in the Northwest Region of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and in the Red Lake administrative district. This forest includes Crown land north of Little Vermilion Lake, south to Pakwash Lake, east of Gullrock Lake and west to Indian House Lake. This 300,000-hectare forest includes portions of Woodland Caribou Provincial Park and Trout Lake Nature Reserve as well as Pakwash Provincial Park and Hammell Lake Conservation Reserve. The Municipality of Red Lake is also located within the forest.

The area is located in the boreal forest which contains the following common tree species: jack pine, black spruce, trembling aspen, white spruce, balsam poplar, and white birch; as well as lesser amounts of red pine, tamarack and black ash. The mining industry, tourism operators, bait harvesters, trappers, hunters and anglers are the other socio-economic uses in the area. Historically, many communities in Northwestern Ontario have depended on wood flow from this forest, including Red Lake, Dryden, Ear Falls, Fort Frances, Hudson, Ignace, Kenora and Thunder Bay.

The forest is managed under the authority of a Sustainable Forest Licence, which has been issued by Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to the Red Lake Forest Management Company Ltd. This company has been established through a partnership between the Red Lake Independent Loggers Ltd. and Domtar Inc..

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 of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Red Lake 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:

Robert Partridge R.P.F.
Plan Author
Red Lake Forest Management Co. Ltd. 138 Howey St. PO Box 1338
Red Lake ON, P0V 2M0
Phone: (807) 727-3320
robert.partridge@whitefeatherforest.com

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 local newspapers.

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

Stage One – Invitation to Participate: November 28, 2017

Stage Two – Review of Long-Term Management Direction: July 18, 2018

Stage Three – Information Centre: Review of Proposed Operations: January 23, 2019

There are two 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: August 2019

The Information Centre for Stage 4 Review of the Draft Forest Management Plan will take place at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch, 102 Address 31 Hwy 105, Red Lake Ontario P0V 2M0 on August 14, 2019.

Stage Five – Inspection of Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry - Approved Forest Management Plan December 2019

An approved forest management plan is scheduled for implementation commencing April 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 community 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,December 2019, you 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 West, Toronto, ON M4V 1P5 for an individual environmental assessment of specific planned operations in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry - approved forest management plan, in accordance with the process described in Part A. Section 2.4.2 of the Forest Management Planning Manual (2017).