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Long-Term Planning Forestry, similar to other disciplines such as medicine and engineering, is continually evolving new approaches, philosophies and strategies as we conduct research and learn from our current practices. Since the last Plan, many new forest management practices and strategies have been developed across Canada and elsewhere that will be incorporated into the next Plan and provide a foundation for future forest management activities. The umbrella term for all these strategies, and how they ultimately relate to each other is termed Sustainable Forest Management (SFM). The last newsletter introduced this term in more detail, but simply put, it refers to ‘management that maintains and enhances the long-term health of the forest, while providing environmental, economic, social and cultural opportunities for present and future generations.’ Other important considerations in an SFM approach include an assessment of both the historic and present forest condition in terms of environmental, economic and social elements as well as the development of a desired future forest condition to maintain these forest elements for future generations.
There are many strategies and practices involved in Sustainable Forest Management. One of the key strategies that support the implementation of a SFM approach is ecosystem-based management. Ecosystem Based Management (EBM) involves the management of human activities so that forest ecosystems (the species present, the way they function, and how they are all distributed) are maintained, and the natural processes that shaped them (including forest fires, climate, evolution, insect and disease) can continue into the future. EBM addresses the environment circle of the SFM diagram (see the figure top right of page 3). LP committed to implementing an EBM approach in the 10 Year Plan and will report on the success of implementing EBM, as well as provide future direction for LP’s continued path towards Sustainable Forest Management, in the next management plan. Public Participation in Sustainable Forest Management Another essential aspect of Sustainable Forest Management is managing the forest for what the public values in it, and for the other elements in the forest that haven't traditionally been managed from a timber perspective - these are often referred to as 'non-timber values'. LP is attempting to get the public and First Nation communities within the management area to assist with setting direction for the management of these non-timber values through their direct involvement in the forest planning and management process. This increased emphasis on public participation processes in forest planning relates to the fact that most of Canada’s forested lands are owned by the public, and recognizes the importance of environmental, cultural and economic values of forests to individual Canadians. The requirement for public participation in forest management is also reflected in policies such as the Canada Forest Accord. LP has developed a variety of strategies to involve Manitobans in the development of the next long-term plan including these newsletters, a website, various advisory committees and public meetings (as outlined in newsletter # 1). |
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As outlined in LP’s forest management agreement with the Province of Manitoba, LP is required to develop and submit for approval another long-term forest management plan before the current 10 Year Plan expires. The next long-term plan will provide an ‘update’ on LP’s activities under the current plan and provide strategic direction for forest management activities into the future. This ‘update’ will incorporate new data from surveys and inventories that have been completed over the last 9 years. It will also integrate new knowledge and understanding of the Duck Mountain forest ecosystems we have learned from our many research and monitoring projects, as well as relevant studies from across Canada.
Ecological Aspects of Sustainable Forest Management