Sustainable Growth: Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy

Several changes were made to the draft FSS in response to comments received. They are as follows:

• The Stewardship and Sustainability Pillar was moved to pillar position one to emphasize the importance of ensuring that environmental, social and economic values are identified and conserved.

• The sustainability of our forests is a key principle of Ontario’s forest policy framework and a legislative requirement of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act.  The FSS now reflects the prominence of Ontario’s sustainable forest policy framework including information about the supporting manuals and guides, forest trusts, audits, reporting, inventories and adaptive management.

• We have also added information about responding to Climate Change. Sustainably managed forests are resilient to the impacts of climate change, while playing a vital role in capturing and storing carbon dioxide.  Consistent with the principle of adaptive management, Ontario will continue to advance and make available forest research on the impacts of a changing climate on future forest growth, wildland fire, and carbon.

• The FSS includes a new action item – a commitment to develop a Forest Biomass Action Plan that supports economic development through the use of mill by-product and forest biofibre, assisting to secure jobs and encourage sustainability in the forestry sector.

• The FSS now has references related to Aboriginal Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and more information about opportunities for Indigenous engagement.

There were mixed responses to the draft FSS. These responses have been categorized and addressed in five themes, a detailed breakdown is provided below:

1. Regulations

Many comments were received about removing policy barriers and regulatory burden.  Those that supported indicated a need to remove policy barriers, streamline process, and find a permanent solution to address how species at risk will be considered in forest management planning. Those opposing suggested that streamlining and removing barriers would lessen environmental safeguards and oversight.

Response:

The FSS is an over-arching strategic document that provides goals and proposed actions.  Though one of the stated goals in the FSS is to make changes in regulations, and remove policy barriers and regulatory burden, any such changes would be undertaken through processes separate from the FSS

2. Natural Forests / Biodiversity / Wildlife Habitat / Climate Change

Concerns that increasing harvest would reduce natural forests, decrease biodiversity, cause loss of wildlife habitat, and exacerbate climate change.  Conversely, many comments indicated that Ontario has a world class forest management system, and forest management plans ensure forest health and sustainability.

Response:

Significant information has been added to the FSS about Ontario’s forest policy framework and how forest management plans ensure sustainability while finding a balance of social, economic and environmental values. Ontario’s forest management planning system will continue to provide transparency, and adapt to changes in legislation, policy to support the social, economic and environmental values of the people of Ontario.

Additional information has been added to address climate change considerations. Adaptive management practices will continue to enable productive and resilient forests into the future. As committed in the Made-In-Ontario Environment Plan, Ontario will also work to improve data and information on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage from forests and the changing landscape.

3. Innovation / Education / Private Lands

Comments concerning innovation and education included support for: developing new markets, fostering innovation, addressing labour shortage, expanding education/training programs, and supporting the Canadian Wood Council, Ontario Wood Works, the Ontario Woodlot Association, and Forests Ontario. Comments received regarding private lands included the need to expand harvest and active silviculture elements of Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program.

Response:

We have added information to the FSS about measures to enhance innovation and new technologies and support educational opportunities. The FSS also indicates that training opportunities for Indigenous youth is important for the sector’s future. The province also supports the delivery of a suite of employment and skills training programs and services through Employment Ontario.

The FSS also commits to encouraging afforestation and responsible timber production on private lands that are not productive for agriculture.

4. Roads

There were several comments suggesting that roads funding should be increased, and/or extended to municipal roads where forestry vehicles travel. Some respondents expressed concern that there are too many roads, and that they cause fragmentation and wildlife habitat reduction.

Response:

The FSS is an over-arching strategic document that provides goals and proposed actions. Ontario will continue to address road planning, through its sustainable forest management planning processes and practices.

5. Consultation

Concern was expressed about the timing and length of the comment period for the proposal.

Response:

In addition to the registry posting with a 63 day comment period, the ministry held ten regional engagement sessions with First Nation and Métis communities; and six sessions with municipalities in January 2020. Consideration of comments was not limited to those received during the comment period.