Big Pic and Pic River Forests Public Sessions

Written by admin on 21 May 2012

Karlson Hunter who sits on the Pic River Public Consultation Committee as a snowmobiling representative and on the Big Pic Forest Planning Team as a Forest Resource Licence Representative (B&M Hauling Ltd.) explained that the public sessions are important for any residents using area forests to attend "I cannot emphasize enough the importance of attending these public sessions no matter what your interests in the forest; blueberry picking, hiking, snowmobiling, bird watching, angling or hunting for example." (Hunter's comments continued below) Photos OntarioNewsNorth.com

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MANITOUWADGE, ON– More than 50 interested residents attended a formal public consultation session held last week, one of three the others being in Caramat an Marathon, for the opportunity to receive clarification, ask questions, submit comments or offer their suggestions in regards to the proposed operation plans for the Big Pic and Pic River forests management plans. Though seperate entities, these forests both include land used by residents, businesses and groups from Manitouwadge, Marathon and Caramat and so in the interest of facilitating the process for the public, review for both forests’ management plans were held together.

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As mentioned, the Big Pic and Pic River forests are seperate entities and as such each has a distinct forest management plan being proposed, additionally, the two forests are also at different places in regards to their 10-year Forest Management Plans;

BIG PIC FOREST is in Phase II of the 10-year period which began April 1, 2007 and will end March 31, 2017 which is the Review of Proposed Operations Forest Management Plan for the second five-year term (2013-2017)
PIC RIVER FOREST will begin a 10-year period next year and so yesterday’s public session offered a Review of Proposed Operations for the Forest Management Plan for the 10-year period beginning April 1, 2013 through to March 31, 2023]

Plans are being prepared for each forest in accordance with the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (1994) (CFSA), the Forest Management Planning Manual (FMPM) for Ontario’s Crown Forests (2009), and the terms and conditions of the Class Environmental Assessment for the Timber Management on Crown Land in Ontario, as extended and amended by MNR’s Class Environmental Approval for Forest Management on Crown Lands in Ontario (MNR-71).

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A forest management plan is required to comply with the provisions of the FMPM. The forest management plan will provide for the sustainability of the Crown forest on the management unit, and will outline the long-term strategic direction and objectives for the management related to:

sustainability of the forest resource;
biodiversity;
social and economic matters (including timber harvest levels);
the provision of forest cover for those values which are dependent on forest cover; and silviculture.

In attendance at the Manitouwadge session to hear from those who visited and provide them with information, clarification and answers to their questions were staff of the Ministry of Natural Resources as well as some of the members from the Pic River and Big Pic forest planning teams and Public Consultation Committees.

Karlson Hunter who sits on the Pic River Public Consultation Committee as a snowmobiling representative and on the Big Pic Forest Planning Team as a Forest Resource Licence Representative (B&M Hauling Ltd.) explained that the public sessions are important for any residents using area forests to attend “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of attending these public sessions no matter what your interests in the forest; blueberry picking, hiking, snowmobiling, bird watching, angling or hunting for example. We [planning team] want to hear from residents whether their comments are positive or negative as these sessions are their opportunity to participate in the process” explained Hunter who both works in the forestry sector and is an avid outdoorsman, though he also cautioned that “If people have questions regarding their use or access to these forests we will ensure they find the answers – they may not always be the answers they want but they will be answered”. Hunter also added that the sessions were an opportunity for clarification for those using the forest “We [representatives in attendance] can help people make sense of the information being provided; the maps, binders full of information and other resources can sometimes seem overwhelming but we’re glad to help people understand what they are looking at, identify the areas they want to access or understand why a certain area may not be accessible to the general public.”

MNR Representative assists attendees with information. Photos OntarioNewsNorth.com

Derrick Tirschmann, R.P.F., MNR Area Forester/Lead Manitouwadge reiterrated the importance of public participation giving the example of individuals who had attended the Caramat session the evening prior “They brought to our attention some added values we were not aware of in the area, this is very important as it can sometimes change details of the forest management plans; and all values are considered and weighed when making decisions as to use of our forests” said Tirschmann.

If you were unable to attend the public sessions held in Manitouwadge, Marathon and Caramat recently the opportunity to receive more information or contribute comments has not ended.

For the PIC RIVER FOREST there are two other formal public consultation opportunities tentatively scheduled as follows:

Stage Four – Information Centre – Review of Draft Plan: November 2012
Stage Five – Public Inspection of Approved FMP: April 2013

An approved forest management plan is scheduled for implementation commencing June 1, 2013.

All comments and submissions received for Stages One to Four will be considered as part of the decision-making by the ministry. Under the public consultation provisions of the FMPM, a written response will be provided to all written comments and submissions, and upon request, to all verbal comments. All comments and submissions will become part of the public record. Stage Five is an inspection period only. No comments are being sought at that stage.

There is an opportunity during the forest management planning process to seek resolution of issues in accordance with the process described in Part A, Section 3.4.1 of the Forest Management Planning Manual (2009).

During the 30-day inspection period, commencing March 2013 and ending April 2013, any person may make a written request to the Director of Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch, Ministry of the Environment, for an individual environmental assessment of specific proposed forest management activities in the forest management plan. A response to a request for an individual environmental assessment will normally be provided after the completion of the 30-day inspection period.

For the BIG PIC FOREST there are also two other formal public consultation opportunities tentatively scheduled:

Phase II: Stage Two – Review of Draft Plan: September 17 – October 17, 2012
Phase II: Stage Three – Inspection of the MNR-Approved Planned Operations: January 3 – February 3, 2013

Approved Phase II operations are scheduled for implementation commencing April 1, 2013.

All comments and submissions received for Stages One and Two will be considered as part of the decision-making by the ministry. Under the public consultation provisions of the FMPM, a written response will be provided to all written comments and submissions, and upon request, to all verbal comments. All comments and submissions will become part of the public record. Stage Three is an inspection period only. No comments are being sought at that stage.

There is an opportunity during the forest management planning process to seek resolution of issues in accordance with the process described in Part A, Section 3.4.1 of the Forest Management Planning Manual (2009).

During the 30-day inspection period, commencing September 17 and ending October 17, 2012 any person may make a written request to the Director of Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch, Ministry of the Environment, for an individual environmental assessment of specific proposed forest management activities in the forest management plan. A response to a request for an individual environmental assessment will normally be provided after the completion of the 30-day inspection period.