This issue of COMMUNIQUE will highlight some of the individual activities, initiatives and work performed by the 14 Members across Canada as well as the CMFN over the past six months... CMFN Strategic Initiative Champion Community Transition & Economic Development Nairn Hay, Fundy Model Forest Enhancing Canada’s International Reputation Sean Dolter, MF of Newfoundland & Labrador Climate Change & Carbon Stocks Clara Lauziere, Northeast Superior Forest Community Daniel Arbour, Clayoquot Forest Communities Canadian Circumboreal Program Sue Parton, Lake Abitibi Model Forest Ecological Goods & Services Nairn Hay, Fundy Model Forest Youth Education & Training Brian Kotak, Manitoba Model Forest Susan Carr, Prince Albert Model Forest Generating Wealth: Non-Timber Forest Products Dave Sutherland, Nova Forest Alliance Bioenergy Mark Richardson, Eastern Ontario Model Forest For more information on CMFN’s Strategic Initiatives or any other activities please contact : Dave Winston, President @ 613-258-8240 COMMUNIQUÉ Volume 2 | Issue 1 The Canadian Model Forest Network and its Member Model Forests: Making Strides Collectively and Individually The first six months of 2009 were a challenging and productive time for both the CMFN and its 14 member model forests across Canada. Our pursuit of eight national Strategic Initiatives has solidified the commitment of our members, with General Managers from different model forests leading each one of these worthy endeavours. The ability to collaborate with colleagues and leverage the hundreds of partnerships fostered by individual model forests across the country—including government, industry, First Nations, NGOs, academia and business—enables these Champions to make steady progress. The modus operandi shared by both the CMFN collectively and its members individually is to research, develop, test, and share practices which lead to sustainable landscape management that benefit our forests, stakeholders, and struggling forest communities. CMFN: Strategic Initiatives & Member Model Forests 1 Model Forest of Newfoundland & Labrador 2 Nova Forest Alliance 2 Fundy Model Forest 3 Eastern Ontario Model Forest 3 Lac-Saint-Jean Model Forest 4 Le Bourdon Project 4 Cree Research & Development Institute 5 Northeast Superior Forest Community 5 Lake Abitibi Model Forest 6 Manitoba Model Forest 6 Prince Albert Model Forest 7 Foothills Research Institute 7 Resources North Association 8 Clayoquot Forest Communities 8 CMFN 6 Month Activity Highlights 9 10 Inside this issue: (Thanks to all CMFN Members for contributing articles from your model forests.) 14 CMFN Member Model Forests Across Canada
Transcript
This issue of
COMMUNIQUE will
highlight some of the
individual
activities, initiatives
and work performed
by the 14 Members
across Canada as well
as the CMFN over the
past six months...
CMFN Strategic Initiative Champion Community Transition & Economic Development Nairn Hay, Fundy Model Forest
Enhancing Canada’s International Reputation Sean Dolter, MF of Newfoundland & Labrador
Climate Change & Carbon Stocks Clara Lauziere, Northeast Superior Forest Community Daniel Arbour, Clayoquot Forest Communities
Canadian Circumboreal Program Sue Parton, Lake Abitibi Model Forest
Ecological Goods & Services Nairn Hay, Fundy Model Forest
Youth Education & Training Brian Kotak, Manitoba Model Forest Susan Carr, Prince Albert Model Forest
Generating Wealth: Non-Timber Forest Products Dave Sutherland, Nova Forest Alliance
Bioenergy Mark Richardson, Eastern Ontario Model Forest
For more information on CMFN’s Strategic Initiatives or any other activities please contact : Dave Winston, President @ 613-258-8240
COMMUNIQUÉ Volume 2 | Issue 1
The Canadian Model Forest Network and its Member Model Forests:
Making Strides Collectively and Individually
The first six months of 2009 were a challenging and productive time for both the CMFN and its 14 member model forests across Canada. Our pursuit of eight national Strategic Initiatives has solidified the commitment of our members, with General Managers from different model forests leading each one of these worthy endeavours. The ability to collaborate with colleagues and leverage the hundreds of partnerships fostered by individual model forests across the country—including government, industry, First Nations, NGOs, academia and business—enables these Champions to make steady progress. The modus operandi shared by both the CMFN collectively and its members individually is to research, develop, test, and share practices which lead to sustainable landscape management that benefit our forests, stakeholders, and struggling forest communities.
CMFN: Strategic Initiatives & Member Model Forests
1
Model Forest of Newfoundland & Labrador
2
Nova Forest Alliance 2
Fundy Model Forest 3
Eastern Ontario Model Forest 3
Lac-Saint-Jean Model Forest 4
Le Bourdon Project 4
Cree Research & Development Institute
5
Northeast Superior Forest Community
5
Lake Abitibi Model Forest 6
Manitoba Model Forest 6
Prince Albert Model Forest 7
Foothills Research Institute 7
Resources North Association
8
Clayoquot Forest Communities
8
CMFN 6 Month Activity Highlights
9 10
Inside this issue:
(Thanks to all CMFN Members for contributing articles from your
model forests.)
14 CMFN Member Model Forests Across Canada
2
CANADIAN MODEL FOREST NETWORK
COMMUNIQUÉ Model Forest of Newfoundland & Labrador
www.wnmf.com
Nova Forest Alliance www.novaforestalliance.com
Coordinators Lead Local Community
Networks The Model Forest of Newfoundland and Labrador (MFNL) has begun work-ing with rural communities to imple-ment sustainable forest management initiatives under the Forest Communi-ties Program (FCP) launched in 2008. The FCP initiatives will be imple-mented through Local Community Net-works (LCNs) consisting of groups of communities throughout the province. Although individual LCNs have unique needs and capabilities, their common goal is to build and maintain the capac-ity for forest-based communities through the development of alternative uses of forest-based resources. LCN Coordinators are developing col-
For more information on these or any other MFNL projects, please contact:
laborative activities to enhance human resources developmental capability in the rural communities and regions. These activities include promoting the economic, environmental, and aes-thetic values of the forest ecosystems through research, business plan devel-opment, conducting training and work-shops, and offering technical assis-tance.
Visit to Argentina Sean Dolter, General Manager of the Model Forest of Newfoundland and Labrador, recently traveled to Argen-tina to assist the Argentine model for-ests in advancing the Local Level Indi-cator (LLI) process, also known as Criteria and Indicators of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM). The LLI process is a scale used across
It’s About Community By Alain Belliveau, Mersey Tobeatic Institute
The Nova Forest Alliance is collaborat-ing with the Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute on three community-based research projects in the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve. Agroforestry This project combines forestry tech-nologies with agriculture to help forest and farm stewards become more di-verse, productive and profitable by using natural resources to their fullest capacity. GIS mapping data, along with related information, will be made avail-able to landowners and the community through workshops and educational materials.
Empower This project aims to create the leaders of tomorrow in Southwest Nova Bio-sphere Reserve communities by em-powering youth with knowledge, skills, and abilities. A conference will be held where youth can network and share ideas. Natural & Cultural History The diversity of the Biosphere presents an opportunity for landowners to edu-cate one another on a range of natural and cultural history topics.
Kids in the Forest The Nova Forest Alliance attended the annual “Kids in the Forest” field day on May 13th at the Harold T. Barrett Fun Forest Camp in Beaver Bank. Throughout the day, specialists pre-
sented on a broad range of topics, including black bears, law enforce-ment, water quality, forest harvesting and regeneration, pre-commercial thin-ning, rocks and minerals, forest pests, hunter safety, and wildfire prevention and suppression. The event, lead by DNR, is a collaboration among several organizations, including summer stu-dents, staff from Barrett Lumber, the Department of Environment, the Nova Scotia Museum, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and a few forest business operators from the area. The Nova Forest Alliance was pleased to play a part in this information-packed day.
For more information on these or any other NFA projects, please contact:
Canada to measure progress in sus-tainable forest management. Dolter and Dr. John Hall, a Science Advisor with the Canadian Forest Service, facilitated the third in a se-ries of process development work-shops in Argentina. The first work-shop defined the process. The sec-ond defined suites of indicators in Argentina, while the most recent one focused on filtering the indicator suite to a manageable set. The next step could be to introduce the proc-ess to the rest of Latin America us-ing Argentina as an example.
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www.modelforest.net
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In addition to funding from Fundy Model Forest, it has received support from three provincial regional develop-ment corporations: Enterprise Miramichi, Enterprise Fundy and En-terprise Grand Falls Region.
Atlantic Partners Launch Non-Forest Product
Directory
Atlantic Canadians interested in liv-ing naturally and buying locally now have easy access to products and services made from woodland re-sources. “From Our Atlantic Woods” is a new directory that identifies and promotes businesses from Atlantic Canada and Maine that develop and sell non-
Fundy Model Forest http://fundymodelforest.net
timber forest products and services such as wild berry wines, honey, Christmas trees, bird-watching tours, wooden furniture, and beauty prod-ucts. Fundy Model Forest worked with several forestry and agricul-tural organizations and agencies to de-velop the directory, which debuted with more than 260 forest product and service listings. INFOR Inc., a partner of Fundy Model For-est, led this project.
New Brunswick Villages Create Sustainability Plans
When Fawcett Lumber closed its saw-mill operation in Petitcodiac, N.B. in 2007, the tiny community lost 90 jobs. Fundy Model Forest is supporting a rebuilding effort by helping the village to enhance local skills and resources. A similar effort is underway in the vil-lage of Plaster Rock. Both communi-ties are entering the second phase of the capacity building project, which is spearheaded by the Rural and Small Town Program at Mount Allison Uni-versity. The project works with the communi-ties to help them more readily identify what capacities can and should be built, how to build them, and what can be done with the newly built capacity.
For more information on these or any other FMF projects, please contact:
The most current information on inva-sive plants, pests, and diseases that threaten the health of forests, lands, waters, and livestock in Ontario is now available in a colourful and informative 60-page guide. Authored by EOMF General Manager Mark Richardson and Peter Neave, Invasive Species: Management Options for the Ontario Landowner is meant to be used as a guide for landowners who are inter-ested in how non-native species may be impacting their property. The guide was developed in partner-ship with the Ontario Woodlot Associa-tion and the Invasive Alien Species Partnership Program (GoC) as part of
the EOMF’s “Caring for Your Land” workshop series, which is an ongoing collaborative effort involving the EOMF, Ontario Stewardship and Con-servation Ontario.
FSC Network Growing Eastern Ontario’s network of certified forests was strengthened by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifica-tion of Renfrew County Forest through the EOMF’s Forest Certification Pro-gram. The EOMF certificate also in-cludes two groups of private landown-ers, community forests and urban for-ests totalling nearly 40,000 hectares. The EOMF views this program as a framework that can be transferred and adapted to other parts of Ontario with similar landscapes. The county-owned
6,400-hectare Renfrew County Forest comprises 51 tracts that include wet-lands, natural forest, and a network of managed plantations. The county man-ages the “working forest” to provide economic, social and recreational benefits to the residents of Renfrew County. Certification was achieved through SmartWood, an independent auditor. The FSC is an international, member-ship-based, non-profit organization that supports environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s for-ests.
For more information on these or any other EOMF projects, please contact:
Mushroom Fever Over 1000 people participated in the wild mushroom harvest at the Jardins de Normandin, organized by the Lac-Saint-Jean Model Forest. The vast LSJMF territory contains over 10 spe-cies of mushrooms with a strong com-mercialization potential. The development of this emerging re-source represents a unique opportunity for rural development and diversifica-tion of the forest environment econ-omy. According to Marie-France Gévry, a biologist in charge of the LSJMF territory resource inventory, there are 78 kg/ha of edible mush-rooms in white spruce forests, 46 kg/ha in black spruce forests and 34 kg/ha in pine forests. The LSJMF is planning several training activities for next spring and summer.
ronomic, forestry, environmental and wildlife benefits stemming from this concept. The preliminary results show that there are undeniable advantages to using this model. The planned net-work of community-based blueberry fields would promote research while maintaining public tenure of the land base. Preliminary results from one of the two LSJMF projects indicate that the blue-berry/forest concept could also provide a favourable habitat for the Connecti-cut warbler, a little-known bird in Que-bec.
Le Bourdon Project www.notreforet.ca/projetlebourdon.aspx
Le Bourdon Project Information Exchange Day
The Le Bourdon Project, Forest Com-munity of the Hautes-Laurentides, held a day of information and exchange at the Boisclair Sugarbush in Mont-Laurier in March. This event was initiated by its partners with the aim of gathering the widest possible membership to work together on the Le Bourdon Project. There-fore, the invitation was extended to not only members of organizations directly involved in the project but also to stakeholders associated directly or indirectly with the forest. During the day, all participants were invited to express their opinions re-
garding various issues relating to the forest. Among the topics discussed: access to forest land as per the road network, consolidation and growth of the econ-omy related to forest resource plan-ning, maintenance and protection of biodiversity, and socio-economic benefits arising from the enhancement of the resources on the forest land-base.
Jocelyn Seguin, president of the Le Bourdon Project, said the stakeholders were asked to discuss the best way to maximize the capacity of all resources in the area, and increase the economic benefits associated with their imple-mentation. “Partnerships are essential to develop-ing a management strategy that incor-porates common goals that will ensure both continuity of supply for forest in-dustries, and the sustainability of habi-tats and sites that are needed for rec-reation and tourism sector."
For more information on these or any other LBMF projects, please contact:
Raymond Barette, General Manager rbarrette@mrc‐antoinelabelle.qc.ca 819.623.5398
According to Stéphane Turcot, LSJMF’s general manager, efforts are also underway to structure the commercialization of this abundant resource, perhaps in the form of a harvester’s cooperative.
Blueberry/Forest
The LSJMF is leading two projects to assess the blueberry/forest concept. Initiated almost a decade ago in Nor-mandin, north of Lac-Saint-Jean, this concept promotes several sustain-able development criteria with the goal of producing blueberries on pub-lic land while maintaining the forests production capacity and preserving biodiversity and landscapes. The Corporation d’aménagement forêt Nomandin is also carrying out a research project to measure the ag-
For more information on these or any other LSJMV projects, please contact:
Stéphane Turcot, General Manager [email protected] 418.275.5386 x:718
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www.modelforest.net
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CRDI Common Research Agenda Forum
A strategic planning session organized by the Cree Research & Development Institute in April was the first step in a process to design a Cree research agenda on resource management and land use for the territory. Information was gathered from dozens of Cree representatives; industry; academia; the Cree-Quebec Forestry Board and the Quebec Ministry of Natural Re-sources and Wildlife. This initiative was part of the Common Research Agenda Project, established to identify common issues and priori-ties from both Cree and non-Cree per-spectives in order to build a medium- and long-term research agenda that includes all stakeholder viewpoints. The process culminated in the Com-mon Research Agenda Forum in Val d’Or, which was attended by both Cree and non-Cree stakeholder groups, the GCCE/CRA, Cree communities af-fected by forestry, Cree Trappers As-sociation, industry, universities, and government.
Cree Research & Development Institute www.modelforest.net/cmfn/en/forests/waswanipi
Harmonizing Cross-Cultural Views
The Cree Research & Development Institute is leading an initiative to im-prove dialogue among Crees, the for-est industry, provincial officials, and researchers. The goal of the Harmonizing Cross-Cultural Views Project is to share infor-mation and build a mutual understand-ing of forest-related activities and val-ues. The aim is to harmonize Cree tradi-tional and forest industry activities through increased communication, understanding and Cree participation in forest resource planning and devel-opment. A workshop in Val d’Or provided a fo-rum for improved cross-cultural under-standing and networking as stake-holders jointly discussed forestry-related issues. The result was a better understanding of corporate and cul-tural views of the forest. Participants in the various consultations identified 16 priority areas needing research.
Cree Forest Lexicon
The Cree Research & Development Institute is leading an initiative to foster better communication among working groups and Cree land users. The goal of the Cree Forest Lexicon Project is to develop a forest-based lexicon that will contribute to a more detailed and relevant expression of land users’ concerns and needs dur-ing consultations for the General and Annual Forest Management Plans. The project will capture the linguistic knowledge and terminology of Cree trappers and elders in the five com-munities affected by forestry. Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2009, with further funding expected for a final Phase 2 initiative. The re-sult of the project will be a Cree for-est lexicon that will be distributed in the five participant communities and among stakeholders. involved in con-sultations.
NSFC Launches New Website!
NSFC is proud to announce the launch of its new fully dynamic web-site. For regular news and updates from Northeast Superior Forest Community please visit us at: www.nsfc.ca.
quality jobs and many other benefits of participating in the renewable en-ergy sector.” The planned ten-megawatt power plant will use wood-fibre biomass as the primary feedstock to generate electricity that will be sold to the pro-vincial grid. This system was se-lected due to its best-of-class envi-ronmental performance.
Chapleau Biomass Power Plant
The Chapleau Biomass Project, an-nounced by the Township of Chapleau, will provide a major boost to the local economy and will support Ontario’s renewable energy targets. Mayor Earle J. Freeborn, also Chair of the Northeast Superior Forest Community, said that “small commu-nities like Chapleau can enjoy the
Northeast Superior Forest Community www.nsfc.ca
For more information on these or any other NSFC projects, please contact:
For more information on these or any other NSFC projects, please contact :
Clara Lauzière, General Manager [email protected] 705.864.2031 x:221
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CANADIAN MODEL FOREST NETWORK
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Lake Abitibi Model Forest and FireSmart
The Lake Abitibi Model Forest has been contracted to
carry out the FireSmart program in the City of Timmins, which has one of the largest land masses among North American municipalities. There are numerous cottage development areas within city boundaries, as well as sub-divisions in forested areas within the city core. The primary purpose of the contract with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) is to es-tablish FireSmart committees at indi-vidual rural subdivisions that will take ownership of planning how to lessen wildfire risk in their areas. The LAMF will also be working with the fire departments of the Town of Iro-quois Falls and possibly the Township
Lake Abitibi Model Forest www.modelforest.net/cmfn/en/forests/abitibi
be done to keep profits in the north. The LAMF is working in partnership with Northern College, the OMNR, On-tario Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, northeastern Ontario universi-ties and local municipalities to organize future conferences to continue these discussions. A conference on the effects of climate change on local economies is planned for later this fall or winter.
For more information on these or any other LAMF projects, please contact:
of Black River—Matheson. A FireSmart committee established last year near Fredrickhouse Lake is working this summer on the develop-ment of an area plan.
Paving The Way Conference II
Over 50 municipal leaders, business-men, academics and citizens from northeastern Ontario communities at-tended a conference organized by the Lake Abitibi Model Forest last March. Aimed at promoting new ventures in forestry and agriculture in the claybelt region, “Paving the Way: Stabilizing Local Resource Based Boom and Bust Economies” considered a wide range of ideas, including wood supply in the northeast, developing value-added secondary industries, worker owner-ship to save a company, and what can
Manitoba Model Forest www.manitobamodelforest.net
MMF Hosts Introductory NTFP Workshops
A series of six workshops organized by the Manitoba Model Forest (MBMF) last spring are part of a longer-term plan to build capacity and expertise in non-timber forest products (NTFP) businesses in the model forest area. A new curriculum for an intensive training course on NTFPs is being developed by Royal Roads University and Dave Buck, former manager of the Northern Forest Diversification Centre in The Pas, Manitoba. The course will be pi-loted in the MBMF area in the autumn of 2009. The workshops, attended by more than 150 people, represented a collabora-tion between the MBMF, the Centre for
Non-timber Resources at Royal Roads University (Victoria, B.C.), Manitoba Forestry Association and the Woodlot Association of Manitoba. Presenters included Tim Brigham (Royal Roads), Dave Buck, Ken Fosty (Manitoba Forestry Association) and Dr. Brian Kotak (Manitoba Model For-est).
Junior Ranger Program After a successful 2008 season, the MBMF Board of Directors has agreed to continue to act as manager of the successful Junior Ranger (JR) Pro-gram both this summer and into the future. During the summer of 2008, 30 students participated in a three-week field program in eastern Manitoba
which allowed them to obtain provincial certificates in a number of areas re-lated to natural resource management (NRM). The purpose of the JR Pro-gram is to get high school students interested in pursuing careers in Natu-ral Resource Management. MBMF has the support of several fund-ing partners, including First Nations Forestry Program, Canadian Forest Service, Tembec, Manitoba Hydro and Louisiana Pacific. Historically, no cen-tral agency was responsible for the program so there were several years over the past decade when it was not offered.
For more information on these or any other MMF projects, please contact:
Under the PAMF – BMAAM signed Agreement of Cooperation, and with the assistance of the International Model Forest Network (IMFN), the Ca-nadian and Chilean embassies and the Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investi-gación y Enseñanza (CATIE), the PAMF and Saskatchewan Energy and Resources were able to undertake expanded discussions and observa-tions in the areas of governance, value-added forest production, indigenous involvement in the forest sector, Chil-ean bioenergy developments, sustain-able plantation forestry and the new Chilean Native Forest Law (Ley de recuperacion del bosque native y fo-mento forestal). The Native Forest Law is aimed at de-veloping environmentally sustainable native forest resources in balance with the social and economic progress of rural communities.
Prince Albert Model Forest www.pamodelforest.sk.ca
During the two week mission, a num-ber of information exchange arrange-ments were made. Both the PAMF and Saskatchewan Energy and Resources will be able to benefit from exchanges of ideas and methodologies involving small and medium sized value-added processing companies in the forest sector. Differing wood characteristics and spe-cies limit competition between Sas-katchewan and Chile in the same global market niches, yet this limited overlap of market niches provides ex-cellent opportunities for innovation and development of similar engineered and value-added wood product technolo-gies.
PAMF in Chile The Prince Albert Model Forest Asso-ciation (PAMF) and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Energy and Resources completed a two week science and technology exchange and fact finding mission in March with the Chilean Bosque Modelo Araucarias del Alto Malleco (BMAAM), the Corporación Nacional Forestal (Conaf) – Chile’s National Forest Corporation in the Ag-riculture Ministry, the Mapuche indige-nous people of Central and Southern Chile, and a number of non-profit and commercial forestry operations. Intended as an expansion of the PAMF growing international relations program that already involves Sweden, Russia and other circumboreal countries, the Chile mission was the first formal col-laboration of the PAMF in the southern hemisphere.
For more information on these or any other PAMF projects, please contact :
Foothills Research Institute www.foothillsresearchinstitute.com
Process-based Stream Classification System
Forest technologists often find it diffi-cult to consistently apply the Ground Rules Watercourse Classification. Watercourse classification is the foundation for riparian management, so inconsistencies can propagate throughout the planning and harvest-ing process. The Foothills Research Institute Fish and Watershed Pro-gram addressed this issue by host-ing a spring field tour to present part-ners with a new naming system for stream channels. During the tour, participants were trained to recognize and measure channel features used in the classifi-cation system before visiting several
sites where the flow chart was used to complete the classification. At the end of the tour, participants characterized the new system as “simple and sound”, striking the right balance between the simplicity re-quired for management applications and scientific rigour.
Natural Disturbance
Short Course
Interest in using natural disturbance patterns to help guide forest and land management decision-making is grow-ing rapidly. Responding to this need, the Natural Disturbance Program at the Foothills Research Institute has developed a three-day course that will
provide a common foundation for un-derstanding the conceptual underpin-nings of a natural disturbance (ND) approach. The course will be offered in Hinton from October 6th-8th, 2009 at the ASRD Hinton Training Centre. The team of instructors has extensive knowledge and experience with for-ward-looking forest land management planning related research activities across Canada. Feedback from partici-pants who attended the inaugural course offering in June 2007 was very positive.
For more information on these or any other FRI projects, please contact:
Resources North Association was awarded funding through Western Economic Diversification Canada to deliver a series of workshops on bio-mass energy and agroforestry as eco-nomic diversification options for com-munities affected by the mountain pine beetle epidemic. Biomass conversion technology is be-coming viable for many communities that would also benefit from more ac-cessible and cost-effective energy al-ternatives to fossil fuels. There is an overwhelming emergence of new tech-nologies, new funding initiatives and new case studies to be considered by these communities before embarking on establishing biomass energy sys-tems.
The overall goal of this project is to demonstrate the reasons farmers, ranchers, woodlot owners/managers, forest managers, and First Nations forestry managers might wish to con-sider agroforestry as an option for di-versification, improving farm and First Nations revenues, and stabilizing wood fibre flow.
Profiling People in Climate Change
The consequences of climate change are a growing concern for governments and citizens alike. Nu-merous individuals, representing a broad spectrum of society’s inter-ests, backgrounds and organiza-tions, are demonstrating leadership in climate change-related activities in central and northern British Colum-bia.
Resources North has established a webpage that profiles these individu-als and groups, and the work that they are doing in their communities. Visit the website at http://www.resourcesnorth.org/rna/431/profiles for more information.
In addition to the Profiles project, Resources North administers the Northern Climate Change Network, issuing regular electronic newsletters informing subscribers of climate change stories that foster greater awareness of community-level cli-mate change impacts and adapta-tion.
The Clayoquot Forest Communities Program was launched in 2008 when Natural Resources Canada awarded funding to the Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region Management Board and Eco-trust Canada. The initiative is part of a national strategy to help forest-dependent communities meet the chal-lenges of economic transition in the wake of the collapse of fisheries and forest industries in the 1990s.
With unemployment as high as 70 per-cent in some of the region’s more re-mote communities, the region is taking a second look at the forest economy as a way to diversify economic activity and avoid reliance solely on tourism.
As a partner, the Central Region Man-agement Board represents the eco-nomic development interests of the five First Nations in Clayoquot Sound, while Ecotrust Canada brings to the table expertise in business manage-ment, community economic develop-ment, and financial management.
Clayoquot business owners' insights sought
The Clayoquot Forest Communities Program and the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust seek business input into a com-prehensive economic analysis cover-ing the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve region and adjacent commu-nities. The report will provide to stakeholders and decision-makers a current and
credible snapshot of the regional econ-omy and how it is influenced by broader economic developments at the provincial, national and international levels. It will also provide an economic snapshot of individual communities and key sectors of the regional econ-omy. Jackie Godfrey, Director of the Clayo-quot Forest Communities Program and Central Region Chiefs, emphasizes the critical need to be able to assess the economic state of both First Nation and non-native communities “as we look for innovative ways to emerge out of the recession with a greener and socially inclusive economy.”
For more information on these or any other CFC projects, please contact:
The CMFN has committed to being a participant in a Stewardship Road Map that will outline a desired future for stewardship activities in Canada and steps to achieve that goal. The Stewardship Road Map was de-veloped during the 4th annual Stew-ardship and Conservation in Canada conference held July 8-12, 2009 in Calgary, Alberta. The CMFN participated in the confer-ence and also staffed a booth, talking with delegates about the CMFN and Model Forest activities throughout the country. This year’s conference, entitled “Strengthening Stewardship…Investing in Every Step”, involved a number of presentations discussing Canadian stewardship theory and grassroots activities. Topics included: overspend-ing natural capital, making stewardship part of the answer, our changing world and emerging trends, as well as ac-tions and impediments to progress. Presentations and conference partici-pants ranged from aboriginal represen-tatives, government, agricultural com-munity and industry, non-government organizations as well as individuals. There were a number of reoccurring themes throughout the conference, such as: defining and quantifying stew-ardship activities, determining a value and finding markets for ecological goods and services, and descriptions of activities currently in place in the Canadian landscape. For further information and copies of the presentations, please visit the con-ference website: www.stewardship2009.ca.
Canadian Model Forest Network : 2009 Activity Highlights www.modelforest.net
Ecological Goods & Services Joint Project
Ecological goods and services (EG&S) are the benefits arising from the func-tioning of healthy ecosystems. They can include a wide variety of things such as water quality and quantity, biodiversity, landscape aesthetics and carbon sequestration. The CMFN, in partnership with the Canadian Federa-tion of Woodlot Owners and the Cana-dian Federation of Agriculture, is work-ing to find incentives to encourage landowners to protect EG&S. Possible incentives include payment for actions, participant recog-nition or in-kind forest management assistance. In March 2009, a workshop was held with government and non-government representatives to gather the Canadian EG&S perspective. From this, a pro-posal has been drafted for a series of pilot projects across Canada to test various incentive mechanisms and develop a guidebook to assist govern-ments and communities in addressing policy and land use issues related to EG&S. Caribou and Model Forests
CMFN members are involved in a vari-ety of grassroots activities involving the woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus). Projects include: research on forest management practices and how it af-fects the population, study of their pre-ferred habitat, population monitoring and modeling, as well as herd tracking and distribution studies. Engaged in this work are: Resources North Association (Prince George, BC), Foothills Research Insti-tute (Hinton, AB), Prince Albert Model Forest (Prince Albert, SK), Manitoba Model Forest (Pine Falls, MB) and Lake Abitibi Model Forest (Cochrane, ON).
The CMFN and Model Forest mem-bers are working collectively to assist governments, industry and other stake-holders to develop new policies, man-agement methods and incentives to protect this sensitive species.
J. Michael Waldram Memorial Model Forest
Fellowship
The J. Michael Waldram Memorial Model Forest Fellowship will be awarded for the second time by the Canadian Model Forest Network and the Canadian Institute of Forestry (CIF) during the CIF’s Annual General Meet-ing in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Sept. 21-23, 2009. “We received an excellent field of can-didates this year with nominations from different regions of Canada and repre-senting varied fields of study in natural resources,” said CMFN President Dave Winston. “We are very pleased that we are able each year to assist students who will be contributing to the management of our forests in their future careers.” The Fellowship is given annually to a Canadian Aboriginal youth who has enrolled in either a degree or diploma program in natural resource manage-ment at an accredited Canadian uni-versity or college. The award honours Mike Waldram, General Manager of the Manitoba Model Forest from 1993 to 2006. As General Manager, Waldram strove to enhance the partici-pation of Aboriginal peoples in the model forest and in forest resource management. The Award is jointly ad-ministered by the CIF and the CMFN.
For more information on these or any other CMFN projects, please contact:
David Winston, President dwinston @cmfn-rcfm.ca 613.258.8240
The Canadian Model Forest Network is now well into its second year of operation and continues to both create and participate in a diverse array of forest-oriented activities. Here is a snapshot of 2009 highlights to date:
Conferences and Workshops Attended: Sustainable Forest Management Network Conference, Gatineau QC National Stewardship Conference, Calgary AB EG&S Workshop & CMFN Presentation, University of Toronto, ON
Published Reports Now Available at www.modelforest.net: Non-Timber Forest Products – What’s Happening in Canada’s Model Forests? This report summarizes NTFP work across the CMFN, including suggestions for
future activities. It was the first in the development of the NTFP Strategic Initia-tive which is led by Nova Forest Alliance.
Community Asset Mapping Manual This is a user-friendly guide that small communities can follow to involve resi-dents in determining what assets (cultural, physical and geographical) their communities can build upon to create a plan for sustainable development. This guide was developed by Falls Brook Centre through a project supported by Fundy Model Forest.
New Projects: Community Indicators: In partnership with NRCan’s Forest Communities Pro-
gram, CMFN is collaborating with several partners including Dalhousie and Mount Allison Universities to develop a set of Community Indicators. The discus-sion paper, Indicators for Forest Communities, provided the basis for the terms of reference for this strategic initiative and is available at www.modelforest.net. Dr. David Bruce, Mount Allison University, prepared the report.
Upcoming Events: Organization for Economic Development (OECD): Annual Rural Develop-
ment Conference: October 13-15, Quebec City QC David Winston, President of CMFN, has accepted the honour to speak on rural development issues in forest-based communities. EOMF was invited to exhibit.
Canadian Model Forest Network 2009 Activity Highlights
The Canadian Model Forest Network gratefully acknowledges the support of Natural Resources Canada through the
Canadian Forest Service’s Forest Communities Program.
COMMUNIQUE is a publication of the
Canadian Model Forest Network, a proud member of the
International Model Forest Network.
www.imfn.net Aussi disponible en français.
CMFN in The Forestry Chronicle
Look for news on the CMFN and its members in each issue of The Forestry Chronicle, the national
magazine produced by the Cana-dian Institute of Forestry/Institut forestier du Canada. Our Mem-bers appreciate this opportunity, graciously provided by the Insti-
tute, to connect with its members, forest managers, practitioners and
researchers. More information about the CIF/IFC and the benefits of member-
ship is available at www.cif-ifc.org or by contacting the Institute’s
