Stage Three: Information Centre – Review of Proposed Operations for the 2021-2031 Timiskaming Forest Management Plan

We are advising the public, First Nation and Métis communities that the 10-year Forest Management Plan (FMP) is being prepared for the Timiskaming 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. The second opportunity for this FMP occurred on November 30, 2019 when the public was invited to review and comment on the long-term management direction.

• Stage One – Invitation to Participate: October 12, 2018
• Stage Two – Review of Proposed Long-Term Management Direction: November 30, 2019

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, and
  • the proposed primary and branch road corridors and the proposed operational road boundaries for the ten-year period of the plan
• 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 locations from 3 pm to 7 pm on the following days:

March 9, 2020: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 310, 175 Pine St, Elk Lake, ON, P0J 1G0

March 10, 2020: Gowganda Community Recreation Area, 1 Gow-Bush-Kon Camp Road, Gowganda, ON, P0J 1J0

March 11, 2020: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 104, 45 4th Avenue, Englehart, ON, P0J 1H0

March 12, 2020: Royal Canadian Legion Branch 87, 1 Summerhayes Avenue, Kirkland Lake, ON, P2N 3H7

The following information may be obtained at the information centre:

• summary of the Regional Director preliminary endorsed long-term management direction; and
• 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 public consultation, the following information will be available at the information centres:

• 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 TFAI office and at the Kirkland Lake District Office at the locations shown below by appointment during normal office hours for a period of 60 days March 9, 2020 to May 8, 2020.

Aaron Palmer, R.P.F.
Timiskaming Forest Alliance Inc.
22 Paget Street North
New Liskeard, ON, P0J 1P0
705-680-0033 ext. 243
aaron.palmer@frmg.ca

Bruce Jewitt
Kirkland Lake LCC, Chair
c/o MNRF Kirkland Lake District
145 Government Road W
Second Floor
PO Box 910
Kirkland Lake, ON, P2N 3K4

Comments on the proposed operations for the Timiskaming Forest must be received by Laurie Nuhn of the planning team at the Kirkland Lake Office, by May 8, 2020.

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).

About the forest

The Timiskaming Forest Management Unit (MU) is located in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) Northeast Region, primarily located within the Kirkland Lake and Timmins administrative districts with small portions of the MU extending into the Cochrane District (Walker Township) and Sudbury District (Haentschel, Howey and Cotton Township). The Timiskaming Forest is located primarily within the Boreal Forest zone however the southern portion of the forest is found within the transition zone of the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence and Boreal Forests.

There are numerous communities located within, or adjacent to, the forest including Kirkland Lake, Englehart, Temiskaming Shores (New Liskeard), Elk Lake, Shining Tree, Matheson and Gogama. In addition, a number of Indigenous communities are located within or adjacent to the forest including Matachewan First Nation, Wahgoshig First Nation, Mattagami First Nation, Beaverhouse Aboriginal Community, Temagami First Nation, Teme-Augama Anishnawbi and Wahnapitae First Nation.

For forest management purposes, MNRF has issued a sustainable forest licence to Timiskaming Forest Alliance Incorporated. 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).

Stay involved

The tentative scheduled date for submission of the draft FMP is June 28, 2020.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 FMP  August 2020

Stage Five - Inspection of MNRF- Approved FMP December 2020

If you would like to be added to a mailing list to be notified of public involvement opportunities, please contact Laurie Nuhn at 705-568-3242.

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 of Natural Resources and Forestry 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 Rosko at 705-568-3228.