Romeo Malette Forest

Welcome to the Information Centre for the Draft 2007-09 Plan

SecondInformation Centre – September 19th, 2006

Why Are We Having This Information Centre?

The first and most important aspect of this Information Centre is to let you know what’s being done to manage the RomeoMaletteForest. We are looking for your comments and questions on the Draft Contingency Forest Management Plan for the 2007 – 2009 period. You can also express other concerns you may have about the management of this Forest.

We also have some information for you to review and comment on this includes the following:

• Draft harvest areas and road access
• Planned Areas of Concern (buffers) for such things as cottage lakes, moose aquatic feeding areas, and forest research plots.
• Additional contributions to the background information to be considered in the decision making process

Finally, this Information Centre would be an ideal time for you to meet the Sustainable Licence Holder, Tembec Industries Inc. and for the planning team to meet you!

Management Unit Map

Forest Management Plan Term

• The Forest Management Plan is being prepared for the period commencing April 1st, 2007 and covers the period to March 31, 2009.

• The Forest Management Plan establishes the long-term strategic direction for managing the forest in order to achieve the desired future condition of the forest. In order to do so, the Forest is modelled as far as 250 years into the future.

• Eligible areas are identified for harvest, renewal and tending operations, Areas are then selected for harvest, renewal and tending operations from within the eligible areas for the two-year term.

• Detailed operational planning of harvest, renewal and tending and access roads is prepared for the period of April 1st, 2007 to March 31, 2009.

Management Responsibilities

Tembec Industries Inc. is responsible for:

• Directing the planning, harvesting and renewal and tending for the management unit,

• Maintaining the Forest Resource Inventory (FRI)

• Preparing the Forest Management Plan, and

• Monitoring compliance with the approved plan.

The Ministry of Natural Resources is responsible for:

• Reviewing and approving the Forest Management Plan,

• Ensuring that forest operations are in compliance with the approved plan, and

• Maintaining communications with First Nations.

The RomeoMaletteForest

• Contains a land base of 622,056 hectares, of which 20,134 hectares are on patent land.
• The Crown portion for the Unit consists of 493,344 hectares of productive forest land and 50,975 hectares of unproductive forest land.
• Contains a mosaic of divers forest types, wetlands, lakes and streams.
• Contains two provincial parks: Dana-Jowsey, GroundhogRiver and six Conservation Reserves outlined in the Ontario’s Living Legacy Land Use Strategy.
• Is dominated by Boreal Forest tree species such as: black spruce, jack pine, poplar and white birch. Other species include: white pine, red pine, white spruce, balsam fir, cedar and tamarack.
• Contains many forest access roads like the Kenogaming, Gogama, Crothers, Price, Musgrove, Penhorwood, Papakomeka and Mountjoy primary roads. Most of these roads branchoff major highways, thereby offering easy access to the Unit.
• Has two featured wildlife species: moose and pine marten.
• Is home to at least 7 bald eagle’s nests which are occupied at various times is also home to at least 4 heronies, and approximately 22 osprey nests.
• Supports human activities such as: forestry, fishing, trapping, bird watching, canoeing, snowmobiling, remote tourism, hunting, berry picking, camping and cottaging.
• The entire Unit is licensed to Tembec Industries Inc.

The Forest Industry

The major consumptive use of the Forest is commercial timber harvest. The employment generated from the harvest and renewal of forest resources on the Unit is estimated to create 1,500 direct and 4,200 indirect jobs in the province.

Roundwood harvest in the Forest is used by the following mills: sawmills in Timmins, and Cochrane. Veneer mills in Cochrane and Rutherglen while aspen based oriented strand board mill can be found in Englehart and Timmins. Traditionally, all wood on the RomeoMaletteForest has been harvested under the umbrella of the Tembec Industries Inc. Sustainable Forestry Licence #550398.

Highlights From the Report of Past Operations

• The RPFO covers the five-year term of April 1st, 1997 to March 31st, 2002.
• A total of 17,035 hectares of forest were harvested – over 43% of the harvest area were within the black spruce forest unit. During this term, approximately 8% more conifer volume was harvested than planned.
• Only 64% of the poplar volume was harvested due to the lack of poplar in some of the mixwood stands.
• Renewal and tending: 9,445 hectares renewed by natural means, 7,286 hectares planted, 9,549 hectares chemically tended and 130 hectares manually tended. A total of 15,194 hectares of the renewal areas met or exceeded the regeneration standards.
• Construction and reconstruction of 138.7 kilometers of secondary road was carried out.

Schedule for the Remaining Public Consultation

• Public Inspection of the Approved Plan – January 2007

• Plan Implementation – April 1, 2007

Concerned About an Issue?

• At any time during the preparation of a forest management plan, any concerned person may identify an issue for specific attention.
• The concerned person can meet with the plan author and try to work out a solution.
• If the issue cannot be resolved at this level, the MNR District Manager or Regional Director may become involved.
• In order to ensure that the issue be dealt fairly, fully and promptly, the concerned person must comply with the issue resolution procedure outlined in the Forest Management Planning Manual.
• Information on significant issues are summarized and contained within the Forest Management Plan.

Freedom of Information

• Under the Freedom and Protection of Privacy Act (1987), personal information will remain confidential unless prior consent is obtained. However, this information may be used by the Ministry of Natural Resources on other resource management surveys and projects.

• For further information regarding this act, please contact Ben Legouffe, MNR Information Officer, Timmins, at (705) 235-1301.

Forest Management Plan Participants

Planning Team Members

Glen McFarlaneMNR Mattagami Area Supervisor, Co-Chair

Don BazeleyTembec, Planning Superintendent, Co-chair/Plan Author

Mac KilgourMNR, Area Forester

Karen StokesMNR, Resource Liaison Officer

Lino MorandinTembec, Operations Superintendent

Jamie MuchaMNR, Area Biologist

Don BuckMNR, Area Technician

Bob BielekTimmins Local Citizens’ Committee

ChadAndersonNorbord, Planning Forester

Lorne FloodRepresentative, Matachewan First Nation

Chris McKayRepresentative, Mattagami First Nation

The Local Citizens’ Committee is a key group of local citizens who are involved in the planning process of this forest management plan. The purpose of the group is to ensure that all local interests are effectively communicated to all others involved in the planning process.

Ministry of Natural Resources District Manager and

Regional Director

Randy PickeringA/District Manager

Rob GallowayRegional Director

The Timmins Local Citizens Committee (LCC)

The Timmins LCC is a volunteer group that is consulted by, and advises MNR and the Forest Industry. The group represents (but not only!) aboriginal communities, trappers, cottagers, mining interest, environmentalists, local business, hunters and fishermen, tourism operators, and the general public. MNR looks to the LCC as a broad based – natural resource interested group – that can be a sounding board and advisor on Natural resource Management. The LCC makes recommendations to the MNR District Manager.

Bob Bielek and Mike Fallat, are members of the LCC that directly represent the LCC on the planning team, and can be reached as noted below.

Please Leave Us Your Comments

If you wish to supply background information, resource values or express concerns, please fill out a “comment sheet” attached at the end of this information kit or contact:

Don Bazeley, Planning SuperintendentMac Kilgour, Forester

Tembec Industries Inc.Ministry of Natural Resources

Hwy 101 WestTimmins District Office

Box 1100Hwy 101 East, P.O. Bag 3090

Timmins, ON P4N 7H9South Porcupine, ON P0N 1H0

Tel: (705) 360-1267Tel.: (705) 235-1320

Fax: (705) 360-1279Fax: (705) 235-1377

Email: mail:

Bob Bielek

Timmins Local Citizens Committee

PO Box 231

Timmins, ON P4N 7C3

Tel: (705) 268-7460

Email:

Comments and information regarding the forest management plan are being collected under the authority of the Forest Management Plan Manual. Comments and opinions will be kept for use during the forest management plan and may be included in study documentation that is made available for public review.

Second Information Centre Comment Form – page 1

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Second Information Centre Comment Form – page 2

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Name:______

Address:______

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Postal Code:______

Phone:______Fax: ______

Email:______

Affiliation/Interest Group: (if required)

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Comments may be submitted until November 20th, 2006 to:

Don Bazeley, Planning SuperintendentMac Kilgour, Forester

Tembec Industries Inc.Ministry of Natural Resources

Hwy 101 WestTimmins District Office

Box 1100Hwy 101 East, P.O. Bag 3090

Timmins, ON P4N 7H9South Porcupine, ON P0N 1H0

Tel: (705) 360-1267Tel.: (705) 235-1320

Fax: (705) 360-1279Fax: (705) 235-1377

Email: mail:

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