Forest Management

2023-2033 Wabadowgang Noopming Forest Management Plan (FMP) was developed over a period of 3 years by the Wabadowgang Noopming Forest Planning Team. The FMP will be in the implementation phase from April 1st, 2023, to March 31st, 2033.

The 2023-2033 Wabadowgang Noopming FMP was developed in accordance with Ontario’s Forest Management Planning Manual (2020 FMPM) and is consistent with legislation and policy; considers direction in forest management guides; balances social, economic and environmental consideration; and provides sustainability for the Wabadowgang Noopming Forest. The Wabadowgang Noopming FMP includes a long-term management direction (LTMD) and the planned operations for the 10-year period.

View the Management Plan

Forest Management Plan Components

Long Term Management Direction (LTMD)

In the development of the LTMD, the current forest condition is described to provide context for the identification of desired forest and benefits, and the establishment of management objectives and indicators. Through strategic analysis, the LTMD identifies the levels of access, harvest, renewal and tending activities that will balance the achievement of management objectives. In this stage of planning, a preliminary determination of sustainability examines whether the LTMD provides for the sustainability of the Crown forest on the management unit.

Operational Planning

During operational planning, the following is identified for the 10-year plan period;

Regular, Bridging and Contingency harvest area
Renewal and Tending area
Silvicultural Trail Area (if any)
Silvicultural Ground Rules
Value protection (Area of Concerns)
Condition on Regular Operations, Roads, Landing and Aggregate Pits
Planned Primary, Branch and Operational Roads and existing roads
Road Use Management Strategy
Wood Storage Yard

The selection and confirmation of areas of operations is an iterative process. There may be adjustments to the areas of operations until submission of the final plan for MNRF approval. Areas of operations will be adjusted as a result of the planning of operational prescriptions and conditions for areas of concern, the availability of new or better information and in response to public comments.

Monitoring

Compliance: The FMP has a 10-year compliance strategy that is in accordance with the requirements of MNRF’s Forest Compliance Handbook. The 10-year compliance strategy describe the methods, intensity and frequency of forest operations inspections, and particular circumstances for which WNFM will conduct forest operations inspections (e.g., forest operations in, and adjacent to, areas of concern).

Assessment of Regeneration: The FMP summarises the monitoring program to assess regeneration for naturally and artificially regenerated areas. The monitoring program assesses establishment and performance of regeneration for harvested areas including salvage. The full monitoring program is included in the supplementary documentation of the FMP and referenced in the FMP text.

Public Consultation

The preparation, review and approval of the 10-year FMP takes about 36 months. The timetable for the preparation of a FMP, based on an ideal situation, is outlined in the figure below. There are five stages of consultation during the preparation of an FMP. Prior to stage 1, the planning team membership is determined and a customized consultation approach is developed with interested Indigenous communities in or adjacent to the Wabadowgang Noopming Forest.

Stage 1: Invitation to Participate

The purpose of this stage is to;

(a) advise the public that the preparation of the FMP is beginning;

(b) provide the public access to information to be used in the forest management planning process;

(d) to request the public's views on the desired forest for the management unit, and desired benefits from the forest which can be achieved through the management of forest cover; and

(e) to invite members of the public to meet and discuss their interests with the planning team, plan author and LCC.

Review of Long-Term Management Direction

The Long Term Management Direction (LTMD) is developed using strategic modelling to determine the location, types, and levels of activities (i.e., access, harvest, renewal and tending) required to manage forest cover to balance the achievement of management objectives. In addition, primary corridors (long term access) and their alternatives are displayed, and the criteria used for the identification of areas eligible for harvest is determined. The locations, types, and levels of activities required to manage forest cover in balancing the achievement of management objectives is investigated during the development of the LTMD.

The purpose of this public consultation opportunity is:

(a) for the public to review and comment on:

(i) the proposed LTMD for the forest;

(ii) the areas which could reasonably be harvested, and the preferred areas for harvest operations, during the 10-year period of the plan;

(iii) the analysis of alternative one kilometre wide corridors for each new 26 primary road which is required for the next 20 years; and

(b) to request contributions to the background information to be used in planning.

Review of Proposed Operations

The purpose of this public consultation opportunity is:

(a) for the public to review and comment on:

(i) the planned areas for harvest, renewal and tending operations for the 10-year period of the plan;

(ii) the proposed corridors for new primary and branch roads for the 10-year period of the plan; and

(iii) the proposed operational road boundaries for the 10-year period of the plan; and

(b) to request contributions to the background information to be used in planning.

During the review of proposed operations, the public is invited to an Information forum.

Review of Draft Forest Management Plan

Following the public review of planned operations for the 10-year period, comments received from the public are compiled. The MNRF will also compile comments that were received from each First Nation and Métis community. The planning team will review the comments, consider if changes to the planned operations are required and make the necessary changes. The monitoring and assessment programs will be developed for forest operations inspections, exceptions monitoring, assessment of regeneration, and monitoring of roads and water crossings, that will be conducted during the period of the FMP. The draft FMP will be produced in accordance with the documentation requirements prescribed in the Forest Management Planning Manual and Forest Information Manual.

The purpose of this public consultation opportunity is for the public to review and comment on the draft FMP. Comments from the public will be considered in the finalization of the list of required alterations to the draft FMP.

During the review of the draft FMP, the public is invited to an Information forum.

Inspection of MNRF-Approved Plan

The FMP has been approved by the MNRF regional director and is available for public viewing. Interested and affected persons, organizations, First Nation and Métis communities can arrange an appointment with the appropriate MNRF office to discuss the approved FMP.

Implementation of the Forest Management Plan

In addition to developing and carrying out the 10-year Forest Management Plan, Wabadowgang Noopming Management is responsible for preparing an annual plan each year called an Annual Work Schedule (AWS). The AWS is essentially a subset of the 10-year FMP for the given 1-year period. Wabadowgang Noopming Management also creates Annual Reports following each year of operations. The Annual Report summarizes activities that actually occurred on the forest over the year, and in some specified years, the report will complete an in-depth analysis of trends over the course of the 10-year plan to date.

Areas of Concern

Submit a Value

An Area of Concern (AOC) is a geographic area established for an identified value that may be affected by forest management activities. Values are known natural or cultural attributes or land uses, including all lakes and streams, which must be considered in forest management planning.

Non-timber forest values are identified throughout the planning process through:

contributions by the Local Citizens Committee
local Indigenous Communities
general public
forest workers
various MNRF program groups represented on the planning team
other government ministries and agencies.

Values can be submitted for protection at any time during the development of a forest management plan or during plan implementation. It is never too late to submit a value. If you have a value that need protection from forestry activities, you can either contact WNM representative at info@wnforest.com or the Thunder Bay Ignace district office at mnr.thudist@ontario.ca

AOC prescriptions are uniquely developed for individual values or groups of values in order to ensure that limitations and requirements are suitable to protecting different values. Prescriptions can include no-harvest buffers around values and/or timing restrictions on when operations can occur (i.e. seasonal)

For the 2023-2033 Wabadowgang Noopming FMP, AOC prescription are displayed on the Operational maps and detailed description can be found in Table FMP-11.

The WN Forest FMP

Click on the button below to access Forest Management Plan maps and documentation, Annual Reports and Annual Work Schedules for each Forest Management Units in Ontario. For the Wabadowgang Nooping Forest, select the Wabadowgang Nooping Forest on the map or select a unit name from the drop-down list.

View the FMP