Stage Two: Review of Proposed Long-Term Management Direction for the 2021 – 2031 Forest Management Plan for the Algonquin Park forest

The Ministry, Algonquin Forestry Authority and the Algonquin Park Local Citizens’ Committee invite you to review and comment on the proposed Long-term Management Direction for the 2021-2031 Forest Management Plan for the Algonquin Park 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: December 4, 2017  

This Stage Two notice is: 

1. 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

2. To 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.  

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:  

• draft of First Nation and Métis Background Information Report. Only if the First Nation and Métis community(s) agree  
• 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 
• 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 (LCC) to date 

The above information can be made available by Algonquin Forestry Authority (AFA) and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) during normal office hours for a period of 30 days July 29, 2020 to August 28, 2020

Comments on the proposed Long-Term Management Direction for the Algonquin Park Forest must be received by Joe Yaraskavitch of the planning team at the MNRF – Pembroke District Office at joe.yaraskavitch@ontario.ca by August 28, 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
Joe Yaraskavitch, Management Forester
joe.yaraskavitch@ontario.ca

Company Contact
Gord Cumming, Algonquin Forestry Authority
705-789-9647 x130 
Gord.Cumming@AlgonquinForestry.on.ca 

LCC Contact
Algonquin Park Forest LCC Chairman
tomb@bell.net

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 

Algonquin Provincial Park is designated a forest management unit (Algonquin Park Forest) under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. The Algonquin Park Forest is located within the administrative boundary of MNRFs Southern Region.

For forest management purposes, MNRF has issued a Forest Resource Licence to the AFA Under the licence, AFA is responsible for the preparation of the forest management plan in accordance with the provisions of the Forest Management Planning Manual (FMPM) and the Algonquin Park Management Plan (1998 and as amended 2013). The MNRF Southern Region and Pembroke District MNRF Office oversee the development of the forest management plan which is carried out by the AFA in consultation with First Nation and Métis communities and the public. 

The Algonquin Park Forest is surrounded by the communities of Pembroke, North Bay, Huntsville, and Bancroft, as well as by several other provincial parks. Bordering the Algonquin Park Forest is the Nipissing Forest to the north-west and the French-Severn Forest to the south-west. To the east and south of the Algonquin Park Forest are the Ottawa Valley and Bancroft-Minden Forest management units respectively. 

The Algonquin Park Forest occupies an area of 763,459 hectares (ha). From this area, approximately sixty-five percent (498,785 ha) of the land base is available for timber production in the Recreation/Utilization Zone of the park. The remaining thirty-five percent (264,674 ha) of park area consists of various protective zones, water, patent and non-forested land. 

The Algonquin Park Forest is situated in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest Region. The management unit contains two basic forest types: tolerant hardwoods and hemlock, which primarily occupy the Precambrian Uplands on the west, and the white and red pine, poplar and white birch found mainly in the eastern Ottawa Lowlands. Commercial timber harvesting within the Algonquin Park Forest is generally carried out using selection or uniform shelterwood silviculture systems. 

Algonquin Provincial Park is unique as it is the only provincial park in Ontario where forest management activities occur. The Algonquin Park Management Plan (1998 and as amended 2013) establishes direction and objectives for all land use within the park. All forest management planning and activities must be consistent with the Park Management Plan and the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006. 

The anticipated dates the forest management plan will be in effect are for the 10-year period from 2021 to 2031. 

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                            December 2020 

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

Stage Five - Inspection of Ministry-Approved Forest Management Plan                     August 2021 

If you would like to be added to a mailing list to be notified of public involvement opportunities, please contact Joe Yaraskavitch, at Joe.Yaraskavitch@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 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: Shari MacDonald by email: shari.macdonald@ontario.ca.