Stage One - Invitation to participate in the concurrent development of a 2-year Contingency Plan (2021-2023) and a 10-year (2023-2033) Forest Management Plan for the Armstrong Forest

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 – the ministry’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 unit, and will outline the long-term strategic direction and objectives for the management 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; and
• silviculture

About the forest

The Armstrong Forest is a forest management unit administered by the Thunder Bay District of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF). The forest lies within the Thunder Bay District and the Northwest Region. The former Armstrong Forest is included in the Lake Nipigon Forest as a result of a forest amalgamation in 2011.Following the conclusion of the enhanced sustainable forest license (eSFL) process on the amalgamated Lake Nipigon Forest, The Ministry has been taking steps towards separating the former Armstrong and Lake Nipigon Forests and designate two new forest management units in 2021. This proposal also includes adding the “Caribou East Parcel” from the former Black Spruce Forest to the Armstrong forest.

The Armstrong Forest is approximately 611,860 hectares and is located approximately 200 km north of Thunder Bay. The predominant tree species found in this area include jack pine, black spruce, poplar, white spruce, birch and balsam fir. Cedar, larch, ash, red pine and white pine are found intermittently throughout the forest but with a stronger affinity to the southern portions of the area.

Wood from the forest is currently utilized primarily by Resolute FP Canada and may also go to other mills in Ontario via trades, sales, and other business to business negotiations. Whitesand First Nation established Sagatay Economic Development Limited in 2010 and has been operating in the former Armstrong Forest.

Communities within or in close proximity to this forest include but are not limited to Armstrong, Whitesand First Nation, the Community of Collins (Namaygoosisagagun), Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek (Gull Bay), Thunder Bay, Nipigon, Greenstone (Beardmore, Jellicoe and Geraldton), Pays Plat First Nation, Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek (Rocky Bay First Nation) Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek, Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek and Red Rock Indian Band.

The Ministry, along with NorthWinds Environmental Services and the Armstrong Local Citizens’ Committee (LCC) invite you to participate in the concurrent development of the 2-year 2021-2023 Contingency Plan and the 10-year 2023 – 2033 Forest Management Plan for the Armstrong Forest.

The planning process

Currently, we are taking steps towards separating the amalgamated Lake Nipigon Forests (MU815). This process will create two new forest management units, the Armstrong Forest being one. The development of a forest management plan for each of the new units is currently taking place.

The Contingency Plan for the Armstrong Forest will take approximately two years to complete and the 10-year FMP will take an additional year to complete. During this time, five formal opportunities for public consultation and First Nation and Métis community involvement and consultation will be provided. This first stage notice is to advise you that preparation of both plans have started with the intent to implement the Contingency Plan starting 2021.

This first stage notice is to advise you that preparation of both plans have started with the intent to implement the Contigency Plan starting 2021. We are requesting:

• Your contribution to background information, particularly information relating to values and important ecological features that could be affected by forest management activities, and
• 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, plan author and/or the Local Citizens’ Committee (LCC), 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, MNRFs provincial goals, objectives and policies for natural resource management.

The background information and general information about the forest management planning process will be available for the duration of plan preparation at the offices noted below, by appointment during normal office hours.

Anytime during the planning process you may 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).

Stay involved

There will be four more formal opportunities for you to be involved. Stages one through three of both plans will run simultaneously using the same information. After stage three the plans will become distinct and the Contingency Plan will be implemented. The stages are tentatively scheduled as follows:

Key Dates for Contingency Plan

Stage One: Invitation to Participate - September 2019

Stage Two: Review of Proposed Long-term Management Direction - April 2020

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

Stage Four: Information Centre - Review of Draft Contingency Plan - November 2020

Stage Five: Inspection of the MNRF Approved Plan - February 2021

Approved Contingency Plan Implementation - April 1, 2021

Key Dates for FMP

Stage One: Invitation to Participate - September 2019

Stage Two: Review of Proposed Long-term Management Direction - April 2020

Stage Three: Information Centre - Review of Proposed Operations - May 2021

Stage Four: Information Centre - Review of Draft FMP - August 2021

Stage Five: Inspection of the MNRF Approved Plan - February 2022

Approved FMP Implementation - April 1, 2023

The approval date of the Contingency Plan is scheduled tentatively for February 2021.

If you would like to be added to a mailing list to be notified of public involvement opportunities, please contact John Clement at (807) 473-8639.

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 Alyson Dupuis, MNRF Thunder Bay District Office at 807-475-1512.