Resolute Forest Products - Forest management plan

Proposal update

Please see the planning process for Stages 1 and Stage 2 on the old Environmental Registry by searching Registry number 012-8617 at https://www.ebr.gov.on.ca

Proposal details

The forest management plan for the Caribou 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 Caribou Forest is located within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry’s Northwest Region and in the Sioux Lookout administrative district. It lies north of the Canadian National Railway Company's main railroad line and extends north to Lake St. Joseph. It borders on the west with the Lac Seul Forest, and on the east with Wabakimi Provincial Park. There is one community located in the Forest: Ojibway Nation of Saugeen. Mishkeegogamang First Nation (formerly Osnaburgh) and Savant Lake are each located adjacent to the Forest.  The largest nearby community is Sioux Lookout, which is approximately 50 kilometres southwest of the Forest.

The Caribou Forest encompasses a total area of 718,217 hectares, of which 483,992 hectares (67 per cent) is managed Crown productive forest. There are approximately 132,697 hectares of water and 2,489 hectares of patent land on the management unit.

The Caribou Forest is situated in the Boreal forest. Black spruce, jack pine, balsam fir, trembling aspen, and white birch are the primary tree species. Less common species are white spruce, balsam poplar, eastern white cedar, black ash, tamarack, white pine, and red pine, occurring as scattered stands, individual trees or minor components of stands.

The Caribou Forest is managed under the terms of the Sustainable Forest Licence #542481 held by Resolute Forest Products.Under the licence, the corporation is responsible for, among other things, the preparation of the Forest Management Plan in accordance with the provisions of the Forest Management Planning Manual (2017).

In addition to fibre for commercial use, the Caribou Forest supports widespread commercial and recreational opportunities including remote tourism, trapping, bait fish harvesting, commercial fishing, wild rice harvesting, hunting, angling, snowmobiling, canoeing, camping, and berry-picking.

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 Sioux Lookout 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:

Matthew Hupf, R.P.F.
Plan Author
Resolute Forest Products
2001 Neebing Ave.
Thunder Bay ON, P7E 6S3
Phone: 807-475-2458
Email: matthew.hupf@resolutefp.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, and First Nation and Métis community involvement and consultation:

Stage One – Invitation to Participate: October 5, 2016.

Stage Two – Review of Long-Term Management Direction: March 19, 2019 – April 17, 2019.

Stage Three – Information Centre; Review of Proposed Operations: June 3, 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: February 2020.

An approved forest management plan is scheduled for implementation commencing April 1, 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 submissions 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 February 2020, 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 W, Toronto, ON M4V 1P5 for an individual environmental assessment of specific planned operations in the MNRF - approved forest management plan, in accordance with the process described in Part A. Section 2.4.2 of the Forest Management Planning Manual (2017).