Planning process begins for Algoma forest

Public input is being sought in a two-and-half-year planning process that will determine the future of one million hectares of crown land in the Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa areas.

The current Algoma and Wawa Forests are being amalgamated on April 1, 2005 to create a single entity for forest management purposes.

The new forest unit will begin north of Sault Ste. Marie and extend west of highway 129 through Wawa to the eastern boundary of Pukaskwa National Park.

The plan under development will pinpoint locations of forest management activities for a 5-year period beginning in 2005, and strategic direction for 20 years.

The following news release has been issued by Clergue Forest Management:

****************************************************************** Forest management planning begins on the Algoma Forest

Perhaps the most complex process of forest management planning in North America has begun on the Algoma Forest.

Forest management plans are prepared for a 20-year period to address long-term strategic direction and the provision of forest sustainability and include the location of forest management activities for a 5-year period.

In the case of the Algoma Forest, the forest management plan must be completed and approved for April 1, 2005.

Forest management plans take approximately two-and-a-half years to complete.

The forest management plan will outline the long-term strategic direction for the management of the forest, and the details of harvest, renewal and tending operations and access road locations for period from 2005 to 2010.

Currently, forest management activities on the Algoma Forest are taking place under an approved plan for the period from 2000 to 2005.

The current Algoma and Wawa Forests will be amalgamated on April 1, 2005 creating a single unit for forest management purposes.

Following the amalgamation, the Algoma Forest will cover over 1 million hectares of Crown land and extend from an area north of Sault Ste. Marie and west of highway 129 through the community of Wawa to the eastern boundary of Pukaskwa National Park.

The Algoma Forest is a source of wood supply for many communities including White River, Hearst, Wawa, Chapleau, Sault Ste. Marie, Thessalon and Espanola.

Clergue Forest Management Inc. the Sustainable Forest Licence (SFL) holder on the Algoma Forest is responsible for preparing the forest management plan.

Clergue is a cooperative Sustainable Forest Licensee with five partner companies; Columbia Forest Products, Domtar Inc., Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd., Midway Lumber Mills and St. Marys Paper Ltd.

A planning team composed of Clergue employees, forest industry staff, members of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and representatives from the MNR Local Citizens Committees (LCC) prepares the plan.

The LCC from Sault Ste. Marie and Wawa each have a member that participates on the planning team.

The LCC is a group of local stakeholders that provides advice to the MNR and the planning team on forest management activities.

The public is encouraged to attend the monthly LCC meetings.

More information on LCCs can be obtained from the web site www.algomaforestlcc.org.

The MNR has recently released the first public consultation notification to alert the public to the initiation of the planning process for the Algoma Forest.

There are five formal opportunities for the public to comment on the development of the forest management plan and the progress that the planning team is making.

The planning team is seeking the public's views on forest management and any information that the public may be able to convey to the planning team about the Algoma Forest.

Information on the preparation of the Algoma Forest Management Plan can be found on the web site www.algomaforest.com.

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