Stage Three: Information Center - Review of Proposed Operations for the 2021-2031 Martel-Magpie Forest Management Plan

We are advising the public, First Nation and Métis communities that the 10-year Forest Management Plan is being prepared for the Martel-Magpie Forest for the period of April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2031. The plan will ensure the sustainability of the forest resource, encourage continued biodiversity, and provide social and economic opportunities of the Crown forest.

The planning process

The plan takes approximately three years to complete. During this time, five formal opportunities for public consultation and First Nation and Métis community involvement and consultation have taken place.

• Stage One – Invitation to Participate: November 7, 2018
• Stage Two – Proposed Long-Term Management Direction: October 16, 2019 – November 15, 2019 

This Stage Three notice is to:

• to invite you to review and comment on:
  • the details of access, harvest, renewal and tending operations for the ten-year period of the plan, and
  • the proposed primary and branch road corridors and the proposed operational road boundaries for the ten-year period of the plan, and
• to request contributions to the background information to be used in planning

How to get involved

To facilitate your review, information centres will be held at the following locations from 3:00pm – 7:00pm on the following days:

• March 24, 2020 - Royal Canadian Legion Hall, 33 Young Street, Chapleau, Ontario
• March 25, 2020 - Royal Canadian Legion Hall, 51 Broadway Avenue, Wawa, Ontario
• March 26, 2020 - Municipal Office Hall, 23 Pine Street, Dubreuilville, Ontario

The following information may be obtained at the information centre:

• summary of the MNRF Regional Director preliminary endorsed long-term management direction

Summary map(s) of:

• planned areas for harvest, renewal and tending operations for the ten-year period of the plan
• proposed corridors for new primary and branch roads for the ten-year period of the plan

In addition to the most current versions of the information and maps which were available at Stages One and Two of the public consultation, the following information will be available at the information centre (s):

• First Nation and Métis Background Information Report (Only if the First Nation and Métis communities agree)
• preliminary Report on Protection of Identified First Nation and Métis Values (Only if the First Nation and Métis communities agree)
• summary of public comments and submissions received to date and any responses to those comments and submissions
• proposed road use management strategies
• list of required modifications resulting from the public review of the long-term management direction

The detailed proposed operations will be available for review and comment at the RYAM Forest Management office and at the MNRF Chapleau and Wawa District Offices by appointment during normal office hours for a period of 60 days March 24, 2020 – May 23, 2020.

Comments on the proposed operations for the Martel-Magpie Forest must be received by Kelly Ellis of the planning team at the ministry’s Chapleau District office by May 23, 2020.

During the planning process there is an opportunity to make a written request to seek resolution of issues with the ministry’s District Manager or the Regional Director using a process described in the 2017 Forest Management Planning Manual (Part A, Section 2.4.1). The last possible date to seek issue resolution with the Regional Director is February 21, 2021.

About the forest

The Martel-Magpie Forest is in the Northeast Region and partially within Chapleau and Wawa Districts. We are working towards an amalgamation of the Martel Forest and Magpie Crown Management Unit. The proposed amalgamation would result in one new Forest Management Plan by dissolving the administrative boundary between the two original forests. The plan will be prepared by RYAM Forest Management in accordance with the provisions of the Forest Management Planning Manual.

The ministry’s Chapleau and Wawa Districts oversee the development of the plan which is carried out by RYAM in consultation with the public, as well as First Nation and Métis communities.

The Martel-Magpie Forest is situated in the Boreal Forest region. It has an approximate total forested area of 1,401,123 hectares, of which 86 per cent (1,200,308 hectares) is classified as Crown land. Approximately seven per cent of the Crown land (104,275 hectares) is classified as provincial parks and conservation reserves. The remaining seven per cent (111,880 hectares) consists of a variety of patented land holdings. The main tree species include jack pine, black and white spruce, poplar and white birch, with minor components of balsam fir, cedar, larch and red pine.

The Michipicoten, Missanabie Cree, Batchewana, Garden River, Chapleau Cree, Brunswick House, Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, Pic Mobert, Mississauga, Chapleau Ojibwe First Nation communities, as well as Red Sky Métis Independent Nation, Bar River Métis, and Métis Nation of Ontario regions 2, 3, 4 are in or adjacent to the Martel-Magpie Forest.  

Timber is harvested pursuant to an approved Forest Management Plan on the current Martel Forest, providing a primary source of conifer to RYAM’s sawmill in Chapleau. Oriented strand board grade poplar and white birch has been sold to Georgia-Pacific Northwoods LP for use in their oriented strand board mill in Englehart. Poplar veneer is sold to Levesque Plywood Limited (Columbia Forest Products) in Hearst. Timber is harvested pursuant to an approved forest management plan on the current Magpie Crown Management Unit providing spruce pine fur to Haavaldsrud Lumber LP (Hornepayne) and poplar to Levesque Plywood Limited. Wood fibre also flows to AV Terrace Bay and White River Forest Products. The Martel-Magpie Forest will also be a source of supply to individuals who rely on incidental species such as cedar for specialty products and low-quality white birch for fuelwood.

In addition to fibre for commercial use, the forest supports wildlife and ecosystem functions such as carbon sinks and water conservation. Commercial and non-commercial recreation opportunities are also associated with the forest. 

Stay involved

There will be two more formal opportunities for you to be involved. These stages are listed and tentatively scheduled as follows:

• Stage Four – Information Centre: Review of Draft Forest Management Plan: October 2020
• Stage Five – Inspection of Ministry-Approved Forest Management Plan: February 2021

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is collecting your personal information and comments under the authority of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. Any personal information you provide (address, name, telephone, etc.) will be protected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act however, your comments will become part of the public consultation process and may be shared with the general public. Your personal information may be used by the MNRF to send you further information related to this forest management planning exercise. If you have questions about the use of your personal information, please contact Leah Cyr, Chapleau District at 705-864-3116.

A final opportunity to inspect the approved plan before it is implemented will take place during the inspection of the ministry-approved Forest Management Plan (Stage Five), which is tentatively scheduled for January 2021.