June 21, 2012

Reg Clayton at Kenora Daily Miner News

https://www.kenoradailyminerandnews.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3587740 

Ministry of Natural Resources staff and citizens committee representatives unveiled the Whiskey Jack Forest 2012-2014 contingency plan for public review and comment at an information meeting in Kenora, Monday, June 18. The meetings continue through the week at Sioux Narrows, Red Lake and Ear Falls.

The interim 2012–2014 contingency forest management plan addresses management issues in the Whiskey Jack Forest following expiration of the previous management plan on April 1, 2012. The development of the new 10-year Forest Management Plan from 2012 to 2022 is expected to occur over the next two years and will include consultation with stakeholders, First Nations and Local Citizens Committees.

The long-term management direction for the Whiskey Jack Forest is to allocate 5,483 hectares annually for harvest. Meanwhile, the interim forest management contingency plan allows for a total harvest of 2,721 hectares or 336,531 cubic metres of timber over the next two years.

According to the interim plan, the Whiskey Jack Forest is divided into four sub units. Forestry operations will not proceed in two of the sub units; the Keewatin Development Area and the Grassy Narrows area of interest, to avoid conflict with traditional land use areas identified by residents of Grassy Narrows First Nation.

The allowable harvest for the Highway 105 sub unit totals 805 hectares and 655 hectares in the Lake of the Woods sub unit for 2012. Forestry operations will proceed in four areas at each of the two sub units. The wood harvested during the two-year contingency plan is slated for mills in Kenora, Dryden and Fort Frances.

MNR Kenora area forester and plan author Kurt Pochailo confirmed the cutting licences are held by three companies all of which are partly or entirely aboriginally owned: Doug Riffle Harvesting of Wabauskang, in the Highway 105 sub unit, Naocrief Inc. and Wincrief Forestry Products both operating in the Lake of the Woods sub unit.

The planned harvest includes 17 cutting areas of less than 260 hectares in size and four cutting areas greater than 260 hectares. Although the designated cutting areas range from 349 to 1,026 hectares, the total area takes into account old harvest sites cut up to 15 years ago. Cutting areas located less than 200 metres apart are also counted as a single cutting area. As a result, the two largest cutting areas designated at 1,026 and 898 hectares will actually only see new cutting take place over 190 and 287 hectares respectively in 2012.

Another change from previous practice is harvest areas are no longer clear cut in square blocks but according to a ragged pattern that leaves considerable edge effect, fringe growth and patches of uncut trees within the cut as well as retaining a mix of young and old growth. The strategy is consistent with forest management practices to provide enhanced moose and deer habit in specific locations.

“We’ve modified things in a way that provides greater after harvest benefits, visually as well as for wildlife habitat,” MNR Kenora district supervisor Shawn Stevenson explained.

Reforestation and tending operations includes tree planting on 1,736 hectares, aerial seeding over 494 hectares and site preparation of another 1,435 hectares over the next two years. Tree planting is currently wrapping up in the Whiskey Jack Forest with 363,000 trees planted this year. The planting program will increase to 400,000 trees in 2013.

Development of the plan included participation by three area First Nations; Whitefish Bay, Wabauskang, and Wabaseemoong. It follows the results of an independent audit of the Whiskey Jack Forest conducted by KBM Consultants last year which produced 21 recommendations relating to forestry practices. The consultants also cited significant issues with the management of the forest by the previous licence holder Abitibi-Consolidated as well as the Kenora and Red Lake Districts of the Ministry of Natural Resources. In a landmark 2011 court case, Grassy Narrows First Nation successfully challenged the province on awarding harvesting licences to forestry companies operating on traditional land. The Ontario Superior Court ruled in favour of Grassy Narrows, stating the province cannot authorize logging operations on the First Nation’s traditional hunting grounds.

The draft contingency plan for harvest, renewal and road maintenance is also available on line at ontario.ca/forestplans. Public comments will be accepted during the 30 day review period ending July 18.