Stage Two: Review of Proposed Long-term Management Direction for the 2022-2032 Forest Management Plan for the Kenora Forest

Our Ministry, along with Miisun Integrated Resource Management Co. (Miisun) and the Kenora Local Citizens’ Advisory Committee (LCAC) invite you to review and comment on the proposed long-term management direction for 2022-2032 Forest Management Plan for the Kenora 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: November 12, 2019.

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

• the proposed long-term management direction for the forest

• the areas which could reasonably be harvested, and the preferred areas for harvest operations, during the 10-year period of the plan
• the analysis of alternative one-kilometer 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 which 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
• summary report of the activities of the local citizen’s committee to date

The above information can be made available electronically by contacting the Company and/or MNRF office listed below, during normal office hours for a period of 30 days: July 6, 2020 – August 4, 2020.

Comments on the proposed long-term management direction for the Kenora Forest must be received by Kyle Myschowoda of the planning team by August 4, 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

Kyle Myschowoda R.P.F.
MNRF, Kenora District Office
808 Robertson Street
Kenora, ON P9N, 3X9
807-468-2559
kyle.myschowoda@ontario.ca

Company Contact

Kurt Pochailo R.P.F.
Miisun Integrated Resource Management Inc.
510 Ninth Street North
Kenora, ON, P9N 2S8
807-467-3351
kurt.pochailo@miisun.ca

LCAC Contact

Dean Caron
MNRF, Kenora District Office
808 Robertson Street
Kenora, ON, P9N 3X9
Kenora.MNRF@ontario.ca

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 Kenora Forest is located in Northwestern Ontario in the MNRF Administrative District of Kenora. It surrounds the communities of Kenora, Minaki, Redditt, Sioux Narrows and Nestor Falls. There are 12 Indigenous communities, more than 8,000 cottages and permanent residences outside of municipal boundaries, and approximately 134 main base lodges and outpost camps within this forest management unit.

It is approximately 1.2 million hectares in size; a little less than half is Crown-managed productive forest and the rest is non-forested land comprised of either water, private land or non-productive forestland containing muskeg and rock.

The predominant tree species found in this area include jack pine, black spruce, poplar, white spruce, white 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.

Miisun Integrated Resource Management Co. (Miisun) manages the Kenora Forest, on behalf of the Sustainable Forest Licence (SFL) holder, Miitigoog Limited Partnership (LP) (SFL Number 550400).  As such, the responsibility of forest management planning is currently held by Miisun in consultation with the MNRF and the public.  Miisun is also responsible for all forestry activities on the Kenora Forest including, but not limited to, harvesting, road construction, renewal, and tending.

The Kenora Forest has wood supply commitments to Weyerhaeuser’s Timber Strand Engineered Lumber Facility, Prendiville Industries Limited (Kenora Forest Products Division- Sawmill Facility) and E&G Custom Sawing. Wood fibre from the Kenora Forest may also go to other mills in Ontario via business-to-business negotiations.

Stay involved

There will be three more formal opportunities for you to be involved. These stages are listed and tentatively scheduled as follows:

Stage Three - Information Centre: Review of Proposed Operations January 27, 2021

Stage Four - Information Centre: Review of Draft Forest Management Plan August 18, 2021

Stage Five - Inspection of Ministry-Approved Forest Management Plan December 8, 2021

The approval date of the FMP is scheduled tentatively for April 1, 2022.

If you would like to be added to the list or be notified of public involvement opportunities, please contact Shannon Diehl, MNRF Kenora District Office at 807-468-2538 or shannon.diehl@ontario.ca.

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 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 Shannon Diehl, MNRF Kenora District Office at 807-468-2538 or shannon.diehl@ontario.ca.

An alternative to the government contact for this notice is:

Kurt Pochailo R.P.F.
Miisun Integrated Resource Management Inc.
510 Ninth Street North
Kenora, ON, P9N 2S8
807-467-3351
kurt.pochailo@miisun.ca