Stage Two: Review of Proposed Long-term Management Direction for the 10-year Forest Management Plan (2023-2033) and Review of Proposed 2-year Contingency Plan (2021-2023) for the Armstrong Forest

The Ministry, along with NorthWinds Environmental Services and the Armstrong Local Citizens’ Committee (LCC) invite you to review and comment on the proposed long-term management direction for the 10-year Forest Management Plan (2023-2033) and review and comment on the proposed 2-year Contingency Plan (2021-2023) for the Armstrong Forest.

The Planning Process

Currently, we are taking steps toward 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. The first opportunity (Stage One) occurred on September 27, 2019 when the public was invited to participate in the development of the plan.

This Stage Two notice is to invite you to review and comment on:

• proposed long-term management direction for the forest
• areas which could reasonably be harvested, and the preferred areas for harvest operations, during the 10-year period of the plan
• analysis of alternative one-kilometre-wide corridors for each new primary road which is required for the next 20 years
• request your contribution to background information to be used in planning

How to get involved

To facilitate your review, a summary of the proposed long-term management direction for the forest can be obtained on the Ontario government website.  A summary map(s) of the preferred and optional harvest areas for the 10-year period of the plan and alternative corridors for each new primary road which is required for the next 20 years will also be available.

In addition to the most current versions of the information and maps that were available at Stage One of public consultation, the following information and maps will be available:

• summary of public comments and submissions received to date and any responses to those comments and submissions;
• a summary report of the results of the desired forest and benefits meeting;
• environmental analysis, including use management strategies of the alternative corridors for each new primary road;
• maps that portray past and approved areas of harvest operations for the current forest management plan and the previous 10 years;
• criteria used for the identification of areas that could reasonably be harvested during the 10-year period of the plan;
• the rationale for the preferred areas for harvest; and,
• summary report of the activities of the local citizen’s committee to date.

The above information can be made available by contacting the Company and/or the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) office listed below, during normal office hours for a period of 30 days: July 2, 2020 – July 31, 2020.

Comments on the proposed long-term management direction for the Armstrong Forest must be received by Vishnu Kowlessar of the planning team by July 31, 2020.

Remote meetings with representatives of the planning team and the LCC can be requested at any time during the planning process. Reasonable opportunities to remotely 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:

MNRF Contact
Vishnu Kowlessar
MNRF, Thunder Bay District Office
435 James St. S., Suite B001
Thunder Bay, ON P7E 6S7
(807) 475-1163

Company Contact
Jeff Cameron, R.P.F.
Senior Consultant
Plan Author
NorthWinds Environmental Services
195 Park Ave.
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 1B9
807 631-8744

Armstrong LCC Contact
Don Plumridge
c/o MNRF, Thunder Bay District Office
435 James St. S., Suite B001
Thunder Bay, ON P7E 6S7
(807) 473-3082

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 FMPM (Part A, Section 2.4.1).

About the Forest

The Armstrong Forest Management Unit is administered by the Thunder Bay District of the 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 process on the amalgamated Lake Nipigon Forest, the MNRF has been taking steps toward separating the former Armstrong and Lake Nipigon Forests and designating 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 encompasses approximately 611,860 hectares and is located approximately 200 kilometres 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 Forest Products 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.

Stay Involved

There will be three 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 the Contingency Plan include

Stage Three - Information Centre - Review of Proposed Operations August, 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 the Forest Management Plan include

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 April 1, 2021.

If you would like to be added to a mailing list to be notified of public involvement opportunities, please contact Vishnu Kowlessar at (807) 475-1163.

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 MNRF 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.

An alternative to the government contact for this notice is:

Jeff Cameron, R.P.F.
Senior Consultant, NorthWinds Environmental Services
195 Park Ave.
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 1B9
807 631-8744