INDEPENDENT FOREST AUDIT - Ontario · 2014-10-22 · Richard B. Greenwood, R.P.F., Date Director...

PINELAND FOREST

INDEPENDENT FOREST AUDIT

FOR THE FIVE-YEAR PERIOD

APRIL 1, 2002 TO MARCH 31, 2007

SUSTAINABLE FOREST LICENCE # 550816

ACTION PLAN

INDEPENDENT FOREST AUDIT

ACTION PLAN APPROVAL for the

PINELAND FOREST Prepared by:

Date Nicholas Gooderham, R.P.F., Regional Planning Coordinator Domtar Inc. Kelly Ellis, R.P.F., Date Area East Forester Chapleau East Area, Ministry of Natural Resources Reviewed by: Keith Ley, R.P.F. Date Manager of Forest Planning and Environment Domtar Inc. Submitted by: Paul Bernier, R.P.F., Date A/Chapleau District Manager Ministry of Natural Resources Jim Duncan Date A/Timmins District Manager Ministry of Natural Resources

Endorsed by: Eric Doidge, R.P.F., Date Regional Director Northeast Region Ministry of Natural Resources Richard B. Greenwood, R.P.F., Date Director Forest Management Branch Ministry of Natural Resources Adair Ireland-Smith, Date Director Ontario Parks Ministry of Natural Resources Approved by: Bill Thornton, R.P.F., Date Assistant Deputy Minister Forests Division Ministry of Natural Resources

Approved by: Charlie Lauer, Date Assistant Deputy Minister Field Services Division Ministry of Natural Resources Approved by: Kevin J. Wilson, Date Assistant Deputy Minister Natural Resources Management Division Ministry of Natural Resources

Pineland Forest 2002-2007 Independent Forest Audit – Action Plan

INTRODUCTION 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

Arbex Forest Resource Consultants Ltd. conducted an Independent Forest Audit (the Audit) of the management of the Pineland Forest for the period April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2007. Domtar Inc. holds forest tenure rights for the Pineland Forest under Sustainable Forest Licence (SFL) # 550816. The audit conformed to the requirements of the 2007 Independent Forest Audit Process and Protocol (IFAPP) prepared by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. The purpose of the Independent Forest Audit of the Pineland Forest was to assess compliance with the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA), the Forest Management Planning process, and planned versus actual management activities. The Audit also assessed the effectiveness of forest management activities of Domtar Inc., and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Chapleau District, in achieving audit criteria and management objectives, and the Licensee’s compliance with the terms and conditions of the Sustainable Forest Licence (SFL). Specifically the audit assessed:

• The last four years of the Pineland portion of the 2001-2006 Pineland-Martel Forest Management Plan;

• The first year of implementation of the 2006-2011 Pineland FMP; • The planning and development of the 2006-2011 Pineland Forest FMP.

The focus of the Audit’s activities was a site visit to the Pineland Forest, which included:

• An in-depth review of management documents at the offices of Domtar Inc., in Timmins and at the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in Chapleau;

• Interviews with staff of the Company and the Ministry of Natural Resources; • Consultations with the Pineland Local Citizens Committee and members of the general

public; • Intensive field inspections of a variety of management activities that took place within

the review period. The Audit made 15 recommendations and 3 suggestions for improvement regarding management of the Pineland Forest. Several recommendations are directed towards improving administrative aspects of forest management and several others are directed towards Ministry of Natural Resources offices beyond those directly responsible for management of the Pineland Forest. This Action Plan addresses the recommendations made by the Audit Team. Responses addressing each recommendation are broken up into four sections:

1. Specific action to be taken. 2. Organization/individual responsible for completing the action. 3. Deadline date 4. Method of tracking progress of the action.

The Audit Team concluded that “The implementation of forest management on the Pineland Forest was substantially in compliance with the purpose of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA) and in accordance with the requirements of the Forest Management Planning Manual”. The Audit Team recommends that the “Ministry of Natural Resources should extend Sustainable Forest Licence # 550816 for a further 5 years”.

Final Version May 6, 2008 1


Actions to Address Audit Team’s Recommendations 1 2 3 4 5 6

Recommendation #: 1 Audit Principle: Public Participation Subject Area: Local Citizens Committee

Recommendation: 7 8 9

10 11 12

The Chapleau District Manager should review the LCC membership list and remove those members who habitually show no interest in attending LCC meetings and make no effort to participate in LCC business/functions. Corrective Action Plan: 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

1-1: OMNR Chapleau District Manager will examine issues impeding the successful functioning of the LCC. Members who have not shown habitual interest in attending or participating in LCC meetings and business/functions shall be removed from the LCC. 1-2: In order to accomplish this, a review of membership will be completed to ensure that a range and balance of interests are represented on the committee and that standing members have made efforts to participate in LCC business/functions. Organization/Individuals Responsible: 23

24 25 26

Chapleau District Manager, MNR Area Forester and Pineland LCC. Deadline Date for Implementation: 27

28 29 30 31 32 33 34

1-1: Issues concerning LCC membership will be discussed at the LCC meeting in May 8th

2008. 1-2: Necessary changes to the LCC membership will be made following the review of the

membership list in the Spring of 2008. Method for Tracking Progress:35

36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43

Chapleau District LCC Terms of Reference.

Recommendation #: 2 Audit Principle: Public Participation Subject Area: Individual Environmental Assessment Process

Recommendation: 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Corporate OMNR should encourage the Ministry of the Environment to explore mechanisms that encourage or require participation in the FMP planning process as a pre-requisite to entry into the Individual Environmental Assessment process.



Background to Actions: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

The preparation of forest management plans is part of a class environmental assessment process as defined by the Environmental Assessment Act and more specifically, Declaration Order MNR-71, as amended by MNR 71/2, MNR’s Class Environmental Assessment for Forest Management on Crown Lands in Ontario. Every class environmental assessment process in the Ontario provides the public with opportunities to request an individual environmental assessment regardless of the level of participation in the planning process. This concept is engrained in the Environmental Assessment Act. The realities of public consultation are that legitimate concerns can come forward at any time during the development of and/or approval process for the plan. They can also come forward as the plan is being implemented and potentially result in plan amendment. Regardless of when the concern(s) come forward, the processes are designed to enable consideration. In the IEA request review process, MOE does consider the IEA requestors degree of participation in the FMP process in their response to the request. Particularly if MOE believes the concern could have been adequately addressed in that process. As a result of this perspective, MNR is not in a position to request MOE to establish criteria as per this recommendation. Corrective Action Plan: 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

No action required

Recommendation #: 3 Audit Principle: Public Participation Subject Area: Individual Environmental Assessment Process

Recommendation: 30

31 32 33 34 35

Corporate OMNR should encourage the Ministry of the Environment to explore mechanisms that would consider Individual Environmental Assessment requests at a scale appropriate to the concern (i.e. local vs. provincial). Background 36

37 38 39 40 41 42

MNR’s Class EA approval for forest management on Crown lands in Ontario requires, through Condition #8 of the approval (Issue Resolution and Requests for Individual EA’s), that IEA requests contain “specific proposed forest management activities in the plan” that are of concern. This is to ensure the IEA requests identify local concerns and not provincial level concerns. Provincial level concerns, or concerns that affect the original Class EA Approval, are addressed through Condition #53, Amendments to Conditions of this Declaration Order.

Corrective Action Plan: 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

No Action required.



Recommendation #: 4 Audit Principle: Forest Management Planning Subject Area: Ministerial Wood Supply Commitments

1 2 3 4 5

Recommendation: 6

7 8 9

10 11

OMNR should review Ministerial wood commitments for aspen from the Pineland Forest in the context of projected wood supply and with due consideration of the wood supply implications arising from the implementation of the various forest management guidelines. Background to Actions: 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

The Ministry of Natural Resources does not consider current wood supply commitments a barrier to the development of an appropriate Forest Management Plan (FMP) meeting the sustainability criteria outlined in the Forest Management Planning Manual, 2004 (FMPM, 2004). Current wood supply commitments, historic utilization, and forecasts of future fibre demand, are factors considered by planning teams in identifying desirable levels of available harvest volume for objective setting in the development of Long-Term Management Direction (LTMD) for a FMP. The FMPM, 2004 directs that the setting of targets for each objective will reflect a balancing of objectives and will consider a balance of social, economic, and environmental considerations. This message is emphasized in FMP training to ensure the achievement of current supply commitments is carefully considered and evaluated with the achievement of long-term wood supply, and non-timber objectives. Revision of current wood supply commitments is not necessary to allow the planning team to develop a FMP containing sustainable wood supply objectives.

The MNR will ensure that planning teams and plan authors are given clear direction indicating MNR expectations for how the current wood supply commitment volumes are to be considered in the development of the 2011 FMP. This direction will emphasize that commitment volumes are not to be achieved at the expense of sustainability objectives. This premise will be clearly stated and explained in the text of the FMP. Corrective Action Plan: 35

36 37

38 39 40

4-1: MNR will provide training to the Pineland Forest planning team during the LTMD FMP training for the 2011 Planning Teams.

4-2: MNR will provide a letter with information regarding wood supply commitments and the context in which this information is to be considered. Organization/Individuals Responsible: 41

42

43

44

4-1: Northeast Region – Forest Industry Liaison Officer

4-2: Northeast Region – Forest Industry Liaison Officer



Deadline Date for Implementation: 1

2

3

4-1: Mid-November 2008

4-2: Targeted to be available prior to the Scoping-analysis

Method for Tracking Progress: 4

5

6

7 8 9

10 11 12

4-1: Training package provided to Pineland Planning Team

4-2: Wood supply commitment letter

Recommendation #: 5 Audit Principle: Forest Management Planning Subject Area: Lands for Life/Ontario’s Living Legacy Sites

Recommendation: 13

14 15 16 17

OMNR must complete regulation of the C1564 replacement areas in time for the preparation of the 2011 Pineland FMP. Corrective Action Plan: 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

5-1: Propose amendment to CLUPA and follow associated processes to obtain approval of amendment

• Obtain internal MNR approvals for the public release of the proposed amendment. • Engage in public/ Aboriginal consultation. Once the screening approvals are obtained,

and the EBR information posting is approved, MNR will post the amendment form and commence a 45-day extensive public and Aboriginal consultation process.

• Review submissions and address concerns where raised. At the end of this consultation period, MNR will review comments received and render a decision on the proposal.

• Render a decision on the proposal, with decision being posted on the EBR and the Crown Land Use Policy Atlas web site. Once the CLUPA amendment is approved, MNR will complete the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserve class EA requirements, develop and finalize the regulation plan and subsequently seek to regulate the sites. Endorsement from the Legislative Assembly will be required for these regulations. Once the regulation changes are approved, MNR will process a CLUPA administrative amendment to blend the additions into their parent protected areas.

5-2: During the CLUPA amendment process MNR Region and Chapleau / Timmins District will re-iterate the importance of providing protection to these proposed protected areas in the 2011 Pineland FMP. Actions to Date: 40

41 42 43

MNR is currently in the process of obtaining screening approval on an amendment package to include 4 new protected area additions as replacement for C1564 – Women River Complex (3 in CH District).



Organization/Individuals Responsible: 1

2 3 4

5 6

5-1: Led by MNR Field Services Division (Chapleau/Timmins District Managers), MNR Natural Resource Management Division (Manager - Ontario Parks Northeast Zone / Manager - Ontario Parks Planning and Research Section)

5-2: MNR Field Services Division (Chapleau/Timmins District Managers (lead), and Northeast Regional Planning Unit Manager).

Deadline Date for Implementation: 7

8 9

10

5-1: N/A – requires sequencing and harmonizing three MNR processes (Crown Land Use Planning, PPCR Class EA and PPCR Act regulations).

5-2: Summer 2008

Method for Tracking Progress: 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

5-1: EBR/ Crown Land Use Policy Atlas (CLUPA) Amendment Index / CLUPA interactive mapping and associated Area-Specific Policy Reports (when posted). 5-2: Correspondence letters; documentation in the 2-Year IFA Status Report.

Recommendation #: 6 Audit Principle: Plan Implementation Subject Area: Values Information

Recommendation: 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

The Chapleau District should evaluate and report to Corporate OMNR on the current status of its values database and its effectiveness in meeting OMNR CFSA obligations for forest management. On the basis of the report findings and recommendations, Corporate OMNR should establish and deliver a five-year funding commitment for values collection and maintenance in the Chapleau District. Background: 32

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

Subsequent to the 2003 Forest Management Class EA Approval, MNR significantly increased the level of funding for values collection across the Area of the Undertaking. MNR funding for the collection of non-timber values now rests with Field Services Division which allocates resources to the Region. Funding from the Field Services Division down through the Region and at the District continues to be subject to the annual budgeting and priority setting process. Values funding is available to all forest management planning teams. However, funding is targeted primarily to those plans that are currently under development to allow for appropriate AOC planning related to those values. The allocated funding levels may not be sufficient to cover a complete survey of an entire management unit. As a result the MNR District Office and Planning Team members need to



1 2 3

determine an appropriate prioritized approach for non-timber values collection and verification based on the allocation of funds. Actions Required: 4

5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

6-1: The Chapleau District will evaluate the current status of the values database on the Pineland Forest. This evaluation will involve a determination of the underlying problem that resulted in the Audit recommendation (i.e. concerns with collection of data; concerns with the maintenance of data). This evaluation will be considered when determining annual funding needs (Action item 6-2), and prioritization setting based on annual funding allotment (Action item 6-4). Any concerns/problems with the maintenance of NRVIS data identified during this evaluation will be reported to Provincial MNR NRVIS Specialists (i.e. within MNR Geographic Information Branch, through the NRVIS Help Desk). 6-2: MNR Chapleau District will identify any annual funding requirements above normal situations to MNR Northeast Region for the collection of non-timber values information. 6-3: MNR Field Services Division will continue to provide funding for field level values surveys. The amount will depend on the number of forest management plans in preparation and recognition of other financial pressures. 6-4: The MNR Chapleau District will formulate a prioritized strategy that will provide non-timber values information including focusing on other means of acquiring the required data to support the FMP objectives and strategies, efficiencies and creative ways of accomplishing what is needed. Actions to Date: 27

28 29 30

In February 2008, the Chapleau District MNR flew 2 days for values collection. Organization & Position (s) Responsible: 31

32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

6-1: MNR GIS Officer and PIM Supervisor (lead) 6-2: MNR Chapleau District Manager 6-3: MNR Northeast Regional Forest Resources Supervisor 6-4: MNR Chapleau District Manager Deadline Date: 41

42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

6-1: The current fiscal year and annually thereafter 6-2: District to submit funding request annually prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. 6-3: Funding will continue to be allocated annually. 6-4: Prioritized strategy will be developed during the first year of forest management planning for the Pineland Forest 2011-2021 FMP.



Method of Tracking Progress: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

6-1: Documented in the two year status report 6-2: Track funding request annually 6-3: Track funds actually received annually 6-4: Track Documentation in the two-year Pineland Forest IFA Status Report regarding the timing of the strategy and how it was implemented.

Recommendation #: 7 Audit Principle: Plan Implementation Subject Area: Silvicultural Monitoring

Recommendation: 18

19 20 21 22

Domtar should accelerate its free-to-grow survey program for depleted lands to determine the status of the backlog areas for development of the 2011 FMP. Corrective Action Plan: 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

The auditors noted that 47,105 hectares are classified as depleted in the forest inventory. This amounts to approximately 15% of the production forest area. Based on past harvest levels (1997-2001 & 2001-2006 FMP’s) this is equivalent to approximately 10 years of depletion area that has not received a FTG assessment. The area also includes the forecasted depletion area from the 2001-2006 FMP for the three-year period from 2003-2004, 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. It is the Company’s contention that this amount of area is in line based on surveying from 5 to 10 years after treatment, relative to the applied SGR. In order to fully capture the backlog area requiring free-to-grow surveys, and address any identified backlog, Domtar will:

• determine the true area requiring FTG surveys based on the Company’s GIS-based depletion, silvicultural and FTG layers, and timing of FTG surveys, and

• accelerate the FTG survey program to capture this backlog within one to two years. It is expected that the actual backlog area will be less than indicated due to the inclusion of forecast depletion area in the planning inventory and as a result the majority of this area will be assessed in the first year of the accelerated program. Should the backlog area be greater than anticipated a second year of accelerated assessments may be required. Inventory updates from the results of these surveys will be incorporated in the planning cover for the 2011 PLF FMP.

Organization/Individuals Responsible: 45

46 47 48 49 50 51

Domtar, management forester and operations forester



Deadline Date for Implementation: 1 2 3 4 5

Within two years of implementation of this Action Plan, commencing with the 2008 FTG survey program. Method for Tracking Progress: 6

7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Results of the exercise used to determine the true backlog area requiring FTG surveying Results of FTG surveys Updated FTG layers in the Company’s GIS database Updated planning cover for the 2011 PLF FMP

Recommendation #: 8 Audit Principle: Plan Implementation Subject Area: Silvicultural Effectiveness Monitoring

Recommendation: 18

19 20 21 22

Domtar must ensure that its silvicultural effectiveness monitoring program is a priority activity on the Forest with adequate staff and time allocated for effective program delivery. Corrective Action Plan: 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

There were a number of organizational changes at Domtar during the audit period that created unexpected challenges in the delivery of the silvicultural program on the Pineland Forest. Domtar recognizes that the benefits of a silvicultural effectiveness monitoring program include; protecting silvicultural investments, and improved confidence in future forest condition forecasts resulting from silvicultural treatments. Domtar will ensure that silvicultural effectiveness monitoring is an ongoing priority activity by:

• budgeting sufficient resources for the hiring of silvicultural supervisors (staff or contract positions), and

• reinforcing the role of the Operations Forester in the overall design, supervision and implementation of the renewal program.

Actions to Date: 37

38 39 40 41 42

Employment advertisements for Silvicultural Supervisors posted at the University of New Brunswick, Lakehead University and on the Canadian-Forests website Organization/Individuals Responsible: 43

44 45 46 47

Woodlands Manager (Lead) and Operations Forester- Timmins Operations Deadline Date for Implementation: 48

49 50 51

Commencing with the implementation of the 2008 field season



Method for Tracking Progress: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11

Domtar employment records for seasonal staff Effective delivery of the silvicultural program

Recommendation #: 9 Audit Principle: Plan Implementation Subject Area: Access Restrictions

Recommendation: 12

13 14 15 16 17

OMNR Regional and District staff should review the need, location and types of access restrictions required for access control, investigate the full range of enforcement options and adequately fund the selected options. Actions Required: 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

9-1: The District MNR will re-evaluate all access restrictions to determine when and why they were originally established and confirm that they exist in the ground. Also assess if the original rationale supporting the restriction is still valid, determine if any restrictions need to be established and what the criteria for those decisions will be and lastly implement and monitor.

9-2: MNR District and staff will conduct a review of the full range of enforcement options available to support access restrictions. Enforcement staff will use this review in developing annual District Compliance Strategies. Actions to Date: 29

30 31 32 33 34

During 2007, the Chapleau District MNR has undertaken a field inventory of access restriction controls throughout the District. This information will be used to review and investigate the need for these controls and restrictions and will be available to the 2011 Planning Team. Organization & Position (s) Responsible: 35

36 37 38 39 40

9-1: OMNR Chapleau District PIM Supervisor (Lead) and District Manager 9-2: OMNR Chapleau District Enforcement Supervisor (Lead) and District Manager Deadline Date: 41

42 43 44 45 46

9-1: Ongoing, commencing January 2008; deadline date Fall 2008 9-2: Ongoing, commencing Spring 2008 Method for Tracking Progress: 47

48 49 50 51

9-1: A report will be developed containing the results and recommendations of the project. 9-2: Annual District Compliances Strategies.



1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Recommendation #: 10 Audit Principle: System Support Subject Area: Staffing Levels

Recommendation: 10

11 12 13 14 15 16

Corporate and local OMNR should conduct a detailed review of Chapleau District staffing, workload and funding issues to determine why staff has limited field presence on the Forest and implement corrective actions. Background: 17

18 19 20 21 22

Over the years, there has been a large percentage of employee turn over at the Chapleau District MNR. For this reason, the Chapleau District Manager has needed to ensure that vacancies be filled as needed and upon approval and funding. Corrective Action Plan: 23

24 25 26 27 28 29

10-1: The District Manager will continue to seek approval to fill permanent positions within the Chapleau District. 10-2: The Regional HR Committee will consider the staffing requests from Chapleau District. Actions to Date: 30

31 32 33 34 35 36 37

The District Manager has made a request and has received conditional approval to fill the positions of Management Forester (2) and Area Biologist from the Northeast Region. In addition, the Chapleau District has filled 2 other permanent positions (Area Technician and Information Management Biologist). Also, as of April 2007, a Forester Intern has been employed for a duration of 2 terms (9 months each). Organization/Individuals Responsible: 38

39 40 41 42 43

10-1: Chapleau District Manager and Area Supervisors. 10-2: Northeast Regional HR Committee Deadline Date for Implementation: 44

45 46 47

10-1 and 10-2: Permanent vacancies are to be filled during the year 2008. Method for Tracking Progress: 48

49 50 51

10-1 and 10-2: Human resources employee files.



1 2 3 4 5 6

Recommendation #: 11 Audit Principle: Monitoring Subject Area: FIM Reporting

Recommendation: 7

8 9

10

Domtar and OMNR should comply with FIM reporting requirements for FOIP’s. Corrective Action Plan: 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

11-1: Forest industry representatives and MNR Compliance Tech are to meet bi-annually to discuss operations and compliance issues relating to Industry Compliance Program roles and responsibilities on the Pineland Forest licence and operations. 11-2: Domtar and the MNR to ensure their respective Forest Compliance Inspectors meet the reporting requirements and timelines as described in the directive FOR 07 03 05 (Forest Compliance Handbook). 11-3: District MNR will assemble a District Compliance Team, which will have meetings on a schedule determined thereafter. 11-4: Area Supervisor will monitor the meetings and follow FIM requirements. Actions to Date: 26

27 28 29 30

Education and communication opportunities exist in the form of training, periodic internal Compliance/Operations meetings and annual Work Program Planning meetings. Organization/Individuals Responsible: 31

32 33 34 35 36 37 38

11-1: MNR Area Compliance Tech and Domtar’s Operations Forester 11-2: OMNR Area Supervisor and Domtar Operations Forester 11-3, 11-4: OMNR Area Supervisor. Deadline Date for Implementation: 39

40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

11-1: MNR/SFL Compliance/Ops meetings will start in the spring of 2008 and bi-annually thereafter. 11-2: Ongoing 11-3: Internal MNR compliance meetings will be ongoing. 11-4: Ongoing



1 Method for Tracking Progress: 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

11-1: Bi-annual meeting minutes implemented and Forest A.C.O.P. reflects this item for monitoring and reporting purposes. 11-2: Bi-annual review to determine whether inspectors are meeting reporting requirements and associated timelines 11-3: Minutes or notes of sessions and meetings. 11-4: Annual PDP (Professional Development Plan).

Recommendation #: 12 Audit Principle: Monitoring Subject Area: FOIP Reporting

Recommendation: 20

21 22 23 24

Chapleau OMNR and Domtar should implement the start-up notification requirements of the approved 5-Year Compliance Plan and adhere to the requirements of the Compliance Manual. Corrective Action Plan: 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

The results from the bi-annual meeting scheduled for the spring 2008, will address this issue. During these meetings, start-up notification requirements will be discussed at the beginning or end of each fiscal year. Domtar and District MNR will formulate a strategy to comply with the requirements of the Forest Compliance Handbook. Actions to Date: 32

33 34 35 36

Domtar/District MNR had a joint compliance meeting on March 18th, 2008. It has been agreed between District MNR and Domtar that start-up notifications will follow the FOIP protocol. Organization/Individuals Responsible: 37

38 39 40

District MNR Compliance Tech and Domtar Operations Forester Deadline Date for Implementation: 41

42 43 44

Bi-annual meetings will commence as of spring 2008. Method for Tracking Progress: 45

46 47 48 49 50 51

Minutes and notes from meetings.



1 2 3 4 5 6

Recommendation #: 13 Audit Principle: Achievement of Management Objectives & Forest Sustainability Subject Area: Monitoring Sustainability

Recommendation: 7

8 9

10 11 12

Corporate OMNR should fully consider the effect of on-going changes to boundaries and guidelines on its ability to measure the effectiveness of any particular initiative and report on their cumulative effect on forest sustainability. Background: 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

Periodic reviews and, when appropriate, revisions of the forest management guides is a legal obligation of MNR. Condition #38 of MNR-71 as amended by MNR-71/2, referred to as “MNR’s Class Environmental Assessment Approval for Forest Management on Crown Lands in Ontario”, requires MNR to review each Guide within five years of the approval of a Guide and thereafter at least every five years to determine the need for revision or amalgamation of the existing Guides or preparation of any new Guides. The intent of the review of the Guides is to ensure that they reflect current scientific knowledge as it applies to Ontario. In considering the need for revisions, amalgamations, or new Guides, in setting priorities, and in determining the appropriate contents of the Guides, the following factors are to be considered:

(i) the results of applicable scientific research; (ii) the results of relevant and appropriate monitoring programs; (iii) the advantages and disadvantages of changes to current forest management practices;

and (iv) advances in analytical and operational technology.

Although data is sometimes not readily available due to management unit or Guide requirement changes, it may be attainable by querying the applicable forest inventories (linking similar forest units etc.). The forest management designation procedure, 2007 contains specific requirements related to sustainability that are considered in a proposal to establish new forest management units or to adjust forest management unit boundaries. The forest management designation procedure requires the following factors to be considered in regards to forest sustainability:

(i) description of the ecological complexity of the proposed forest management unit boundaries as compared to the original management unit(s);

(ii) description of how the proposed forest management unit boundaries compare to the landscape guide regions and any action required to address the application or sharing of landscape guide apportioned ranges;

(iii) description of the change to forest conditions and structure between the proposed and original forest management unit(s). This involves comparisons of forest units, age class distributions by forest units, and forest development curves;

(iv) description of the affect on the achievement of the forest management objectives particularly the desired forest and benefits and forest sustainability.



1 2 3 4 5

The requirements outlined in Condition #38 of the Declaration Order and the Forest Management Designation Procedure, 2007 demonstrate that MNR fully considers the effect of ongoing changes to boundaries and guidelines on its ability to measure the effectiveness of any particular initiative and report on their cumulative effect on forest sustainability. Corrective Action Plan: 6

7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14

None

Recommendation #: 14 Audit Principle: Contractual Obligations Subject Area: Reporting

Recommendation: 15

16 17 18 19

The Regional OMNR, District OMNR and Domtar should meet deadlines associated with the Independent Audit Action Plan and Status Report deadlines. Corrective Action Plan: 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

14-1: The MNR Chapleau and Domtar’s Operations and Area Foresters workload and priorities will be realigned to allow for the timely completion of the Action Plan and Status Report. 14-2: Submission of the draft Action Plan for review (by Regional and Corporate MNR). 14-3: Completion of Action Plan (based on input from the review). 14-4: Completion of Status Report of Action Plan. Organization/Individuals Responsible: 31

32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

14-1: Chapleau District MNR, Area Supervisor and Domtar Planning Coordinator 14-2: Chapleau District MNR, Area Forester and Domtar Planning Forester 14-3: Chapleau District MNR, Area Forester and Domtar Planning Forester 14-4: Chapleau District MNR, Area Forester and Domtar Planning Forester Deadline Date for Implementation: 41

42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

14-1: February – March, 2008 14-2: March 1st, 2008 14-3: Spring, 2008 14-4: The Status Report of Action Plan will be completed two years following the approval of the Action Plan



1 2

Method for Tracking Progress: 3

4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11

By monitoring the submission date of the Action Plan and associated Status Report progress can be measured.

Recommendation #: 15 Audit Principle: Contractual Obligations Subject Area: Summary of Conclusions & Recommendations

Recommendation: 12 13 14 15 16

The Minister of Natural Resources should extend the Sustainable Forest Licence SFL # 550816 for a further 5 years. Background to Actions: 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

The wording in the SFL indicates: “The term of this licence commences on the 1st day of April, 2006, and expires on the 31st day of March, 2026, subject to the Minister being satisfied the Company has complied with the terms and conditions of the Sustainable Forest Licence for the former Pineland Forest based on the results the Independent Forest Audit of the former Pineland Forest for the period April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2007. Should the Minister not be satisfied that there has been compliance with the terms and conditions of the licence based on the results of the audit for the former Pineland Forest, the term of the licence will commence on the 1st day of April, 2006, and expire on the 31st day of March, 2021. In either case the terms may be extended in accordance with section 26(4) of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act.” The recommendation to extend would signify that the company has met the requirements to have the conditional portion of the licence term removed from Section 2.3 of the SFL. Corrective Action Plan: 33

34 35 36 37 38 39

Develop explanatory/seeking direction note and associated recommendation to the Minister to remove the conditional term in Section 2.3 of the SFL based on the Audit Report, recommendations from the District Manager and the Regional Director. A letter will be developed to amend the licence as required under Section 34 of the CFSA. Organization/Individuals Responsible: 40

41 42 43 44 45

(Lead) Coordinator, Forest Practices Evaluation, Forest Evaluation and Standards Section, FMB; SFL Specialist, MNR, Industry Relations Branch, Wood Allocation & Measurement Section (SFL Specialist) and Chapleau District Manager. Deadline Date for Implementation: 46

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The dates will depend upon the timing of the tabling of the final audit report. An amendment to the SFL can take place any time after the report has been tabled.



Method for Tracking Progress: 1 2 3

Copies of SFL reside on the MNR website and at the MNR Chapleau. They will be updated with new renewal date.


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INDEPENDENT FOREST AUDIT - Ontario · 2014-10-22 · Richard B. Greenwood, R.P.F., Date Director...

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