Stage Three: Information Centre - Review of Proposed Operations for the 2020-2030 Ogoki Forest Management Plan

Our Ministry, GreenForest Management Inc. and the Geraldton Area Natural Resources Advisory Committee (GANRAC) invite you to review and comment on the 2020-2030 Proposed Operations for the Ogoki 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 are provided:

• Stage One - Invitation to Participate: October 4, 2017
• Stage Two - Review of Long-Term Management Direction: July 17, 2019
• Stage Three - Information Centre: Review of Proposed Operations: November 5, 2019
• Stage Four – Information Centre: Review of Draft Forest Management Plan: May 6, 2020
• Stage Five – Inspection of MNRF-Approved Forest Management Plan: August 21, 2010

This ‘Stage Three’ notice is 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
• the proposed primary and branch road corridors and the proposed operational road boundaries for the ten-year period of the plan
• To request contributions to the background information to be used in planning

How to get involved

To facilitate your review, the following information centre will be held:

• Tuesday, November 5, 2019, from 2:30 to 8:00 pm, at Nakina Community Centre, 206 Northern Avenue, Nakina, Ontario, P0T 2H0

The detailed proposed operations will be available for review and comment at the GreenForest Management Inc. office and at the Ministry's Nipigon Office at the locations shown below by appointment during normal office hours for a period of 60 days November 5, 2019 – January 4, 2019. Comments on the proposed operations for the Ogoki forest must be received by Robin Kuzyk of the planning team at the Ministry's Nipigon Office by January 4, 2019.

About the forest

The Ogoki Forest is approximately 10,900 km2 in size and is located between 50º30' – 51º30 latitude and 86º30' – 89º15’ longitude in Northwestern Ontario, approximately 400 km north-east of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The Forest incorporates approximately 9,798 km2 of forested area, the majority of which is Crown Land subject to forest management planning and forest management operations. The current boundaries of the Ogoki Forest were formally established in 2004.

The Ogoki Forest is bordered to the north and east by the northern boundary of the Area of the Undertaking, as identified in the Class Environmental Assessment by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) for Timber Management on Crown Lands in Ontario. The west portion of the Forest is bordered by Wabakimi Provincial Park, the south-west portion of the Forest by the Lake Nipigon Forest and the southern portion of the forest is bordered by the Kenogami Forest. The Ogoki Forest is located north of the Municipality of Greenstone, which was formally established in 2001. Greenstone encompasses the towns of Nakina, Geraldton, Longlac, Jellicoe, Caramat, Orient Bay, and Beardmore.

The management unit is located Ministry offices for the Nipigon District are located in Nipigon and Geraldton and the Northwest Regional office is located in the City of Thunder Bay. The Ogoki Forest is currently a Crown Management Unit managed by the Nipigon District and through a Forestry Agreement with the licensee, Agoke Development Limited Partnership.

Stay involved

A final opportunity to inspect the approved plan before it is implemented will take place during the inspection of the MNRF-approved Forest Management Plan (Stage Five), which is tentatively scheduled for August 21, 2020.

The approval date of the FMP is tentatively scheduled for August 21, 2020.

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 Marie Parsons, District Business Coordinator, at (807) 887-5012.