Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

"How will LP Canada help to maintain large predators, "species at risk", and non-forested habitats, so that these will continue to fulfil their key roles in the Duck Mountain ecosystem?"

LP Canada will use a combination of coarse and fine filter species approaches to maintain biodiversity and manage the habitat or areas of the forest that are needed for large predators and species at risk. So, what does this mean??

A coarse filter approach relates to the forest as a whole. What LP will do is look at the forest from the big picture or ‘landscape-level’ and ensure that the many different types and ages of the forest that are currently present are available into the future. This is called ‘ecosystem representation’ – and what this does is ensure that the habitat that the various species in the forest need to live and reproduce, whether it be plants or animals, are available in the future. This also includes non-forested habitats such as meadows, bogs and wetlands which provide habitat for many species of plants and animals. The critical assumption in this process is that if you maintain the various different elements of the forest you will also maintain the species that live in those various forest types.

The distribution, amount and age of the various forest types across the Duck Mountains are important aspects of this approach. LP is currently developing an extensive database on the various plant and animal species that are naturally found in the Duck Mountains. The database also describes the parts of the forest that each species needs to live – whether it be winter or summer habitat, or areas needed for reproduction or gathering special food items, such as mineral licks. During forest planning the species present and the availability of their required habitat types are considered while selecting potential harvest areas. Powerful computer models and statistical analysis are used to set targets for the amount and location of the various forest types that are needed by the wildlife in order to maintain the species currently found in the Duck Mountains into the future.

The fine filter species approach refers to managing for the habitat needs of a particular species. This could include species at risk, or other species that are considered important to the people of the Swan Valley including large predators. For a particular species, we can assess the habitat suitability and availability for a particular species – this is a fine filter approach in that the forest conditions are assessed for one species within the coarse filter approach described above.

LP can help to maintain the current species found in the Duck Mountain ecosystem through habitat management. However, there are many other things that have the potential to affect wildlife species in the Mountain Forest Section including recreational and Aboriginal hunting activities, habitat loss and forest fragmentation due to agricultural practices and climate change.

"Related to stream crossings and habitat preservation, how can LP Canada work with landowners to ensure timber removal on private lands is done in an environmentally safe manner?"

LP believes the best way to ensure timber removal on private lands is done in an environmentally safe manner is through landowner and harvester education. Over the past several years landowners, or more often harvesting contractors, have approached LP to provide aspen from private lands. Therefore, LP has not actively sought wood from private land.

LP Swan Valley has developed a solid Private Land Education Program. One of the very first things we do is provide the landowner and harvesting contractor with an information package that contains LP’s policies and principles on Protection of the Environment, Sustainable Forestry, Water Quality, Forest Management, Log Specifications, and a variety of “Best Management Practices” fact sheets around harvesting, soils, and water. LP Planners, with the landowner and logger, fill out a questionnaire. This questionnaire helps the LP Planners and the landowner determine the long-term management objectives for the land. For the most part we are finding that the landowners are farmers who wish to convert a portion of their land for agriculture or grazing purposes. LP also requires that landowners agree to protect the environment in terms of soil protection, wildlife/rare species, riparian areas, roads and stream crossings during harvesting. If the landowner refuses to agree to the Best Management Practices set forth in the principles or questionnaire, LP will not purchase the wood.

LP signs a Timber Purchase Agreement with the logger and copies of the Title Deed and Landowner Authorization Form (must be signed by all parties who have right or title to the land). LP Planners also maintain the right to inspect the private land before, during or after harvesting, in these cases a private land inspection form is completed and filed.

Generally LP has been dealing with about 45 private land harvesting contractors for the last few years and we have encouraged them and landowners alike to attend the BMP training sessions each spring free of charge. We have found most have taken us up on the invitation. LP is moving to make BMP training mandatory for all harvesters selling wood to LP from private land.

In many parts of the Swan River Valley private land is harvested and the wood is shipped to Ontario, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin to supply pulp mills. This is currently an attractive offer to landowners as those areas are experiencing a wood shortage. LP Canada Swan Valley has no control on harvesters, landowners or practices on these lands or on landowners who choose to sell wood in this way.