Stage One: Invitation to Participate in the development of the 2022-2032 Forest Management Plan for the Whitefeather forest

The purpose of this notice is to advise the public and First Nation and Métis communities that the 10-year Forest Management Plan (FMP) is being prepared for the Whitefeather Forest for the period of April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2032. The plan will ensure the sustainability of the forest resource, encourage continued biodiversity, and provide social and economic opportunities of the Crown 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

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.

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, plan author and/or the Red Lake Local Citizens’ Advisory Committee (LCAC), 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 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 the ministry’s District Manager or the Regional Director using a process described in the 2017 Forest Management Planning Manual (Part A, Section 2.4.1).

The general information regarding the FMP process as well as the information described in this notice, will be available at the Whitefeather Community Resource Management Authority office and at the Red Lake Ministry of Natural Resources Forestry (MNRF) office, at the locations shown below, by appointment during normal office hours. Meetings with representatives of the planning team and the LCAC can be requested at any time during the planning process. Reasonable opportunities to meet planning team members during non-business hours will be provided upon request. If you require more information or wish to discuss your interests and concerns with a planning team member, please contact one of the individuals listed below.

About the forest

The Whitefeather Forest is located in the MNRF’s Red Lake District, which is part of the Northwest Region and is located within the ancestral lands of the people of Pikangikum First Nation.

The Whitefeather Forest Community Resource Management Authority holds the Sustainable Forest Licence and is therefore responsible for, among other things, the preparation of the Forest Management Plans in accordance with the provisions of the Forest Management Planning Manual for Ontario’s Crown Forests (2017).

The Whitefeather Forest lies within the boreal forest region and is dominated by black spruce and jack pine with lesser amounts of poplar and white birch. The total area of the management unit, all ownerships combined is 1,233,615 hectares (89% land, 11% water). Of this area, 397,877 hectares (34%) will be regulated parks, 426,551 hectares (36%) are designated Enhanced Management Areas, the remaining 359,449 hectares (30%) are designated as general use areas. Of the managed lands, there are 644,519 hectares of production forest that are suitable for timber management.

In addition to fibre for commercial use, the forest supports wildlife and ecosystem functions such as carbon sinks and water conservation, non-timber forest products, mineral development, tourism, recreation, strategic access/infrastructure, and parks as part of the Whitefeather Forest Initiative. This initiative seeks to create new livelihood opportunities for the youth of Pikangikum based on the abundant resources in the Whitefeather Forest.

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              July 2020

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

Stage Four - Information Centre: Review of Draft Forest Management Plan         May 2021

Stage Five - Inspection of Ministry-approved Forest Management Plan                October 2021

A final opportunity to inspect the approved plan before it is implemented will take place during the inspection of the ministry-approved Forest Management Plan (Stage Five), which is tentatively scheduled for October 2021.

The approval date of the plan is tentatively scheduled for October 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 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 at (807) 727-1332.