Stage Three: Information Centre – Review of Proposed Operations for the 2021-2031 Nagagami forest

The purpose of this notice is to advise the public, First Nation and Métis communities that the 10-year Forest Management Plan is being prepared for the Nagagami 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, First Nation and Métis involvement are provided.

• Stage One – Invitation to Participate: November 13, 2018
• Stage Two – Review of Proposed Long-Term Management Direction: November 27, 2019

This Stage Three notice is to:

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

How to get involved

To facilitate your review, an information centre will be held at the following location from 4 pm to 8 pm on the following day:

• March 31, 2020: Royal Canadian Legion Hall - Branch 194, 48 Sixth Avenue, Hornepayne, ON, P0M 1Z0

The following information may be obtained at the information centre:

1. summary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) Regional Director preliminary endorsed long-term management direction
2. summary map(s) of:
   • the planned areas for harvest, renewal and tending operations for the ten-year period of the plan
   • the 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:

• 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 First Resource Management Group office and at the Ministry's Wawa District Office at the locations shown below by appointment during normal office hours for a period of 60 days March 31 to May 30, 2020. Comments on the proposed operations for the Nagagami Forest must be received by Brian Harbord of the planning team at the Wawa District Office, by May 30, 2020.

Meetings with representatives of the planning team and the Nagagami Forest Local Citizens’ Committee can be requested at any time during the planning process. Reasonable opportunities to meet planning team members during non-business hours will be provided upon request.  If you require more information or wish to discuss your interests and concerns with a planning team member, please contact one of the individuals listed below:

MNRF contact
Brian Harbord
Wawa District
48 Mission Road
P.O. Box 1160
Wawa, ON P0S 1K0
705-856-4736
brian.harbord@ontario.ca

Company contact
Etienne Green
FRMG - Hornepayne office
78 Front Street
P.O. Box 609
Hornepayne, ON P0M 1Z0
705-680-0033 ext. 244
etienne.green@frmg.ca

LCC contact
Nagagami Forest LCC
Marg Zajac
c/o Wawa District
48 Mission road
P.O. Box 1160
Wawa, ON P0S 1K0

During the planning process there is an opportunity to make a written request to seek resolution of issues with the MNRF 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 December 9, 2020.

About the forest

The Nagagami Forest is located in Northeastern Ontario within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Administrative District of Wawa. The Northeast Region office has the lead role for the development of the forest management plan and the administration of forest management activities. Wawa District supports the Northeast Region office in this role. First Resource Management Group is responsible for forest management planning and is acting as agent for the Sustainable Forest Licensee Hornepayne Lumber Limited Partnership.

Of the over 448,400 hectares in this forest, just over 368,406 hectares are considered productive forest lands. These productive forest lands can be found in Hill’s site region 3E which is entirely within the Boreal Forest Region of Ontario. Predominant tree species found in this area include jack pine, black spruce, poplar, white spruce, white birch and balsam fir with smaller amounts of cedar and larch found intermittently throughout the forest.

Communities within or in close proximity to the forest include Hornepayne, White River, Marathon, Constance Lake, Hearst and White River. The local Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry District office is located in Wawa and the office of the forest manager is located in Hornepayne.

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 August 2020

Stage Five - Inspection of Ministry-Approved Forest Management Plan January 2021

The MNRF 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 Ministry 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 Jennifer Lamontagne at 705-856-4747.

The tentative scheduled date for submission of the draft FMP is June 2020.

If you would like to be added to a mailing list to be notified of public involvement opportunities, please contact Brian Harbord at 705-856-4736.