scott davis forest certification coordinator eastern ontario model forest

Scott DavisForest Certification Coordinator

Eastern Ontario Model Forest

Conserving Large Woodlands –

Essential to Healthy Communities

January 31st 2008

Presentation Outline• Forest Communities Program

• Eastern Ontario Model Forest

• Brief Overview of Private Land & Community Forests in Ontario

• EOMF Forest Certification Program

• How EOMF can assist Partners

Is defined as a working scale forest-dominated land-base, where the most appropriate sustainable forest management practices are developed, tested and shared, in a partnership with local stakeholders and others who will benefit from the gained experiences.

What is A Model Forest

• From IRM to SFM– TOE Trails and Outdoor Education – FFC-Forming the Ferguson Forest Centre– Ice Storm Response– Private Woodlot Strategic

Initiatives– Forest Certification– The Unholy Alliance– The Zeal to Deal

• “A settled landscape”

Eastern Ontario Model Forest 1991-2007 Putting down Roots… Progressive Partnerships

Canadian Model Forest Program

■ Formed in 1992 by the CFS■ Network of 11 Model Forests ■ Member of an International Network■ Model Forests Serve as a Demonstration to Achieve SFM■ International Destination - Canadian Forest Management

Forest Communities Program

• 1.5 million hectares1.5 million hectares• 88% of forests are privately owned 88% of forests are privately owned • Home to over 1 million peopleHome to over 1 million people• Settled landscape – hardwood dominant Settled landscape – hardwood dominant • Membership and partner driven organization• Viewed as an honest brokerViewed as an honest broker• Managed by a board of dircetorsManaged by a board of dircetors• “ “A Forest For Seven Generations”A Forest For Seven Generations”

Eastern Ontario Model Forest

Ottawa

Cornwall

Gananoque

EOMF Objective Areas 2007 - 2012 Objective 1; To work with industry and community-level stakeholders to

develop new and advance existing forest based opportunities

Objective 2; Work with partners to pilot ideas, conduct research and develop integrated approaches to respond to a forest landscape in transition

Objective 3; Develop and share forest management knowledge, practices, and tools with local, national and international forest dependant communities

Spheres of Influence

Some EOMF Projects•Demonstration Forests (60)•Private Land Forest Certification•Mapping & Information Services•Species at Risk OMNR partnership•Eastern Ontario Urban Forest Network•State of the Forest Reporting•Publications – Agro forestry BMP – Maple Mgt

Private Land Forestry in Ontario• Represents about 11% or 7 million hectares – 87% of southern Ontario is private

• 80% of southern Ontario woodlands area 10 acres or less – personal use

• Represents very high value hardwood log source for Ontario

• Taxation, Classification, IG Transfers, Regulations - Tree Cutting By Laws

• Timber Sales - fair payment – Logger Standards or Certification

• Management planning support & cost – MFTIP

• Woodlot Certification of private lands in Ontario – is it a $ feasible option

Community (County) Forests in Ontario

• Agreement Forest Program 1921-1998 – reforest lands – erosion, flooding

• Partnership between agreement holder (County) and OMNR

• Starting 1994 the MNR transferred management back to Municipalities

• Today a wide range of management strategies – very little to intensive

• Many Values – recreation, hunting, education, habitat, wetlands, revenue

• Many have Advisory Committees – volunteer groups

• 31 Municipal Forests covering 84,000 hectares – many red pine plantations

• Currently 13 of these had forest management plans

What is Forest Certification?

• A voluntary market based program to give consumers choice to purchase “well managed” products

• Independent third party evaluation of forest management practices – considering environmental, social and economic values.

• Recognition of good forest management

Certification TypesCertification TypesForest Certification

• Resource Manager

• Group Certification

Product Certification

• Chain of Custody

Why Forest Certification in the EOMF

•Landowner and Partner Interest in Forest Certification •No existing organizations in place Co-ops, marketing boards•Mandate of the Forest Communities Program – Learn & Transfer•Certification Working Group – Broad Representation•Credible tool to implement Sustainable Forest Management – private & community forests

Third Party Certification Systems for Third Party Certification Systems for Forestry in CanadaForestry in Canada

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Canadian Standards Association (CSA)Canadian Standards Association (CSA) Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI)

Forest Stewardship CouncilForest Stewardship Council• Formed in 1993 in response to consumers’ concernsFormed in 1993 in response to consumers’ concerns

• Only system applicable to private land - prescriptiveOnly system applicable to private land - prescriptive

• Has certified 750 forests in 79 countriesHas certified 750 forests in 79 countries

• Has established Standards for forest regions - GLSLHas established Standards for forest regions - GLSL

• System most widely endorsed by ENGO’sSystem most widely endorsed by ENGO’s

FSC 10 Principles & CriteriaFSC 10 Principles & Criteria11. Meet all applicable laws2. Have legally established rights3. Respect Indigenous Peoples rights4. Maintain community well-being5. Conserve economic resources6. Protect biological diversity7. A written management plan8. Regular monitoring9. Maintain high conservation value

forests10. Manage plantations to reduce

pressures on natural forests

No. of hectares of FSC forest worldwide

Total FSC Certified Forest 71,637,263 May 2007

Sweden 13 138 298 ha Poland 6 806 160 ha

USA 7 939 850 ha Canada 19 85 553 ha

EOMF Certification Program

Eastern Ontario Certified Forest Owners Group4000 ha represented through 65 landowners

• Farm Woodlot Owners• Sawmill Operators• Absent Landowners• Cottage Owners• Organized Groups• Maple Syrup Producers• Retired Forest Owners

Eastern Ontario Certified Forest Owners

• 9 member Board of Directors • Mission Statement• Constitution• Marketing Committee• Membership Fees $50 to offset workshops fees - audit• Education, Networking, Workshops• MOU with the EOMF• All have a forest mgt plan

SD&G Certified Forest Owners• Board of Directors – OMNR Stewardship Partnership• Growing membership 30 forest owners• Educational workshops, sharing experiences• Providing FSC wood to market

FSC Certified Community Forests in eastern Ontario

1. Larose certified through South Nation Conservation 11000 ha2. South Nation Conservation owned lands certified 3700 ha3. SD&G municipal lands certified 3400 ha4. Lanark County Forest recently certified – 4600 ha5. Total of 22,700 acres of certified community forests

Benefits Private & Community Forests• Technical assistance for forest managers - contacts• GLSL Standards for best management practices• Affordable option for all – private and community• Credibility, accountability for forest operations• Framework for management – at all stages• Access to markets that may not be otherwise be available• All values accounted for – environmental, social, economic

EOMF FSC Certification Program- Summary

•FSC certified for 5 years – has been recertified for 5 more•22000 ha of certified community forest•4000 ha of certified private land•Created toolkits, guidebooks & manuals for internal use & as a tool for others•EOMF can include and certify maple syrup producers•Brought over 1.5 million board feet of FSC wood to market•Organized 26 workshops – logging damage, pine mgt, tree marking, wetlands & woodlands, taxes, old growth, chainsaw safety - with partner organizations •Shared lessons learned throughout Ontario & beyond

How EOMF can assist Partners• Assist with the technical challenges of FSC certification• Policies and Procedures Manual• Guidebooks and information exchange • Chain Of Custody Toolkit• Site visits to assist forest managers/sawmill owners

• Input towards a gap analysis – certification readiness • Bring Forests into our program and certify them

Thanks

Scott Davis Eastern Ontario Model Forest

(613) 258-8422