Stage One: Invitation to Participate in the development of the 2021-2031 Forest Management Plan for the Ottawa Valley Forest

This bulletin is to inform you that development of the 2021-2031 Ottawa Valley Forest Management Plan is commencing. The anticipated dates that the plan will be in effect are for the ten-year period of April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2031.

The planning process

The Ottawa Valley Forest Management Plan (FMP) takes approximately three years to complete. During this time, five formal opportunities for public and Aboriginal involvement are provided.

This ‘Stage One’ notice is to:

• advise you that preparation of the plan has started
• request your contribution to background information, particularly information relating to values and important ecological features that could be affected by forest management activities
• request your view of the desired forest condition and desired benefits which can be obtained from the forest.

How to get involved

Please provide any comments or information to the Ministry office listed below or if you wish to meet and discuss your interests and concerns with the planning team, please contact the individuals identified below.

Background information and sources of direction that are available for you to view includes the following:

• description of the management responsibilities on the forest and of the forest industry that is supplied from the forest
• values maps showing natural resource features, land uses and values
• description of the historic forest condition
• a map of existing roads and their use management strategies
• management unit annual reports, audit reports, and provincial reports pertaining to forest management
• sources of direction for the forest such as past plans, land use plans, any relevant policy direction under the Endangered Species Act, 2007, MNRF’s provincial goals, objectives and policies for natural resource management. The background information and further information about the forest management planning process will be available for the duration of plan preparation.

During the planning process there is an opportunity to make a written request to seek resolution of issues with our District Manager or the Regional Director using a process described in the 2017 Forest Management Planning Manual (Part A, Section 2.4.1).

About the forest

The Ottawa Valley Forest is located at the Ministry's Pembroke District, which is part of the Southern Region.

For forest management purposes, the Ministry has issued a sustainable forest license (SFL) to Ottawa Valley Forest Inc. (OVFI). Under the license, the corporation is responsible for, among other things, the preparation of the forest management plan (FMP).

OVFI is a partnership comprised of traditional Crown wood harvesters and users in the unit. The Ottawa Valley Forest currently supplies both softwood and hardwood timber and residual to a wide assortment of local sawmills, pulp and paper mills and board plants. There are over 40 wood processing facilities that receive wood from this area.

The area included in the planning process lies within Renfrew County. The Ottawa Valley Forest management unit lies within the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest Region and is dominated by poplar, white pine, oak and maple with lesser amounts of birch, balsam fir, red pine, cedar and hemlock. The overall landscape pattern is fragmented by multiple land uses: Crown and private forestry, agriculture, roads and urban development, and federal lands.

The total area of the management unit, all ownerships combined, is 805,554 hectares. Crown lands and waters comprise 326,534 hectares, or 41% of the management unit. Of this area 29,388 hectares (9%) are water and 297,146 hectares (91%) are land. There are 15,371 hectares of Crown lands in regulated parks and protected areas. The balance of Crown lands is considered to be the managed portion of the Ottawa Valley Forest.

In addition to fibre for commercial use, the forest supports wildlife, ecosystem functions, and contributes to the quality of life of the approximately 148,000 residents of this management unit. The primary activities occurring in the Ottawa Valley Forest area include hunting, fishing, ATV touring, snowmobiling, and general outdoor recreation. Commercial tourism and recreation is significant in the area, although most of the facilities and use occur on private land. There are a number of species at risk that have been found on the Ottawa Valley Forest including, butternut, turtles and bald eagles, among others.

Stay involved

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

Stage Two - Review of the Proposed Long-Term Management Direction FEB 2020

Stage Three - Information Centre: Review of Proposed Operations APR 2020

Stage Four - Information Centre: Review of Draft Forest Management Plan AUG 2020

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

If you would like to be added to a mailing list to be notified of public involvement opportunities, please contact Krista Watters, District Management Forester, at 613-732-5597.

The approval date of the FMP is tentatively scheduled for April 1, 2021.

We are 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 Kathy Crampton, District Business Coordinator, (807) 727-1332.