MANAGEMENT UNIT ACTION PLAN

NAGAGAMI FOREST
2007 –2012 INDEPENDENT FOREST AUDIT
MANAGEMENT UNIT ACTION PLAN
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Table of Contents
Action Plan Signature Page ........................................................................................3
Prepared by: .........................................................................................................3
Reviewed by: ........................................................................................................3
Submitted by:........................................................................................................3
Approved by:.........................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................4
RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................................................................5
Recommendation #1: .........................................................................................5
Recommendation #3: .........................................................................................6
Recommendation #4: .........................................................................................7
Recommendation #5: .........................................................................................8
Recommendation #6: .........................................................................................9
Recommendation #7: ....................................................................................... 10
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Action Plan Signature Page
Prepared by:
Boris Michelussi, R.P.F.
Forester
Jackfish River Management Ltd.
Original signed on October 3, 2013
Zachary White, R.P.F.
Management Forester
MNR Wawa District
Original signed on October 4, 2013
Reviewed by:
Carlo Bin
President
Nagagami Forest Management Ltd.
Original signed on October 3, 2013
Submitted by:
John Peluch
District Manager
MNR Wawa District
Original signed on October 4, 2013
Approved by:
Corrinne Nelson
Regional Director
MNR Northeast Region
Original signed on December 16, 2013
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INTRODUCTION
An Independent Forest Audit (IFA) was conducted on the Nagagami Forest by KBM
Forestry Consultants Inc. during 2012. The field portion of the audit took place between
September 17th and September 21st inclusive, with the document examination and
interviews taking place prior to, during, and subsequent to this period. The audit
assessed implementation of the 2006‐2026 Forest Management Plan (FMP) for the
period April 1st, 2007 to March 31, 2011 as well as the planning and approval of the
2011‐2021 FMP and the first year if its implementation, i.e., April1, 2011 through to
March 31, 2012. The audit was completed under the 2010 Independent Forest Audit
Process and Protocol (IFAPP).
Nagagami Forest Management Ltd (NFM) has held the Sustainable Forest License (SFL)
since May 2004. The Licensee was previously held by Abitibi‐Consolidated Company of
Canada. NFM was previously a co-operative venture between Olav Haavaldsrud Timber
Company Ltd, Weyerhaeuser Company of Canada Ltd, Columbia Forest Products and
Longlac Wood Industries Inc., but due to mill shutdowns and bankruptcies it has been
reduced to a single shareholder: Olav Haavaldsrud Timber Company Ltd. Jackfish River
Management Ltd. (JRM) is the management contractor who acts on behalf of NFM
regarding the administration of the Nagagami Forest, including forest management
planning and operations.
The audit identified one best practice and seven recommendations. There were two
recommendations directed at NFM and two were directed to MNR Wawa District; two
were directed at both NFM and MNR, and one was directed at Corporate MNR.
The current version of the IFAPP requires this Action Plan to address the 6
recommendations directed at the Company and Wawa District MNR. The one MNR
Corporate recommendation is not part of this action plan.
This action plan has been prepared jointly by JRM, on behalf of NFM, and the MNR
Wawa District and MNR Northeast Region. The action plan provides a description of the
actions required, organization and persons responsible, the deadlines for each of the
action items and status and/or date of accomplishment, methods for tracking progress
of the action.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation #1:
MNR engage Ginoogaming, Constance Lake and Pic Mobert First Nations to conduct
values mapping and prepare Aboriginal background information reports and contact
Hornepayne Aboriginal Community to update their values maps and background
information report.
Actions required:
1. Prior to the production of the 2016‐2021 Phase II FMP, the MNR will meet /
correspond / inform the First Nations and Hornepayne Aboriginal Community
about this IFA recommendation.
2. During the production of the 2016‐2021 Nagagami Phase II FMP, MNR Wawa
District will attempt to engage Ginoogaming, Constance Lake and Pic Mobert
First Nation to conduct values mapping and preparing aboriginal background
information reports. The District will contact Hornepayne Aboriginal Community
to update their values maps and background information report.
(At the request of the communities in the District, Values maps are not a public
document and are housed in the Wawa District office and are only used by the
planning team to ensure First Nation Values are protected).
Organization and position responsible:
(Lead) MNR Wawa District, Resource Liaison Officer, Management Forester and the
Forest Management Planning Supervisor
Deadline date:
1. Prior to the commencement of Phase II FMP production.
2. Ongoing throughout the production of the Phase II FMP. To be completed by
April 1, 2016
Method of tracking progress:
1. Correspondence and/or meeting minutes and/or note to file.
2. Proof of engagement (i.e. Correspondence, meeting minutes, note to file). The
following sections of the Supplementary Documentation of the 2016‐2021 Phase
II FMP
1) 6.1.2 ‐Aboriginal Background Information Report
2) 6.1.3 ‐Updated Summary of Aboriginal Involvement
3) Central Filing Hornepayne Aboriginal Community: 10.20.05.02;
Ginoogaming First Nation: 10.30.04.00; Constance Lake First Nation:
10.30.01.01; Pic Mobert First Nation: 10.20.03.12
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Recommendation #3:
NFM ensure that, where possible, a component of large live conifer trees are left in
harvest blocks where herbicide treatment is likely.
Background
The audit team observed that most residual stems left following harvest within harvest
blocks were hardwood. A concern was raised by the audit that the potential useful life
of large living trees left following harvest is greatly shortened when follow‐up herbicide
treatments occur. Since conifer trees are unaffected by the herbicide spray, when
applied at the correct time, they should help to meet the intent of the FMP that there
be a component of large live trees left following harvest.
Actions required:
1. NFM will identify on an annual basis, within orientation training / info sessions for
harvest supervisors and operators, harvest blocks where herbicide treatment is
likely.
2. NFM to organize orientation training / info sessions for harvest supervisors and
operators at the start of the AWS to make sure that operators understand
prescription for wildlife tree residual in harvest blocks.
3. NFM to organize field visits periodically to discuss with harvesting operators and
operations supervisors the requirement to leave large live conifer trees in harvest
blocks, where herbicide treatment has been noted as a possible treatment.
4. NFM / MNR to conduct the regularly scheduled block compliance audit of the
compliance reporting area where this function of the Cutting Activity will be
assessed and reported.
Organization and position responsible:
1. NFM Silviculture Specialist
2. (Lead) NFM Operations Supervisor
NFM Silviculture Specialist
3. (Lead) NFM (JRM) Compliance Inspector
NFM Silviculture Specialist
4. NFM (JRM) Compliance Inspector
Deadline date:
Ongoing through to March 31, 2016
Method of tracking progress:
1. Training materials that are associated with this action.
2. Record of training and/or info session of the contractors and operators training.
 Notes or slide shows or meeting minutes.
 Attendance records from meetings.
3. Compliance Inspector’s field notes or report
4. FOIP
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Recommendation #4:
NFM, with the technical assistance of MNR, conduct a study on the effect of stand and
site conditions, harvest method and treatment type on the content of balsam fir in the
future forest condition, and that the NFM report on its findings in the Annual Report
following completion of the study.
Background:
Because of the present silviculture practice on the Nagagami Forest (i.e., CLAGG
harvesting on the high balsam fir content sites and tree planting with relatively little or
no mechanical site preparation) a concern was raised by the audit that the proportion of
balsam fir on the Forest may be increasing, which may result in greater vulnerability to
future spruce budworm attacks.
Actions required:
1. NFM and Wawa District MNR Study Team to develop methodology to address the
recommendation. The study will record the change in species composition from
the pre‐cut to the post FTG condition by forest unit, harvest method and
treatment type.
2. Using the methodology developed in 4.1 above NFM and Wawa District MNR will
conduct research, and / or analysis to address the recommendation and will
obtain findings which will be analyzed by both NFM and the MNR to develop a
report.
3. NFM will prepare and publish the report findings within the Annual Report.
4. NFM may use the findings and conclusions from the report to determine
strategies in the next Phase I FMP, or to assist in wood supply modelling
assumptions.
Organization and position responsible:
1. and 2, (Co‐Lead) NFM Silviculture Specialist
(Co‐Lead) Wawa District, Area Supervisor
3. (Lead) NFM Forester
4. NFM Plan Author
Deadline date:
March 31, 2016
Method of tracking progress:
1. Two points:
 Study team meeting minutes or conference call records.
 Methodology documented within meeting minutes or conference call
records.
2. Three points:
 Study team’s field visit records, if applicable
 Summary of data and analysis (findings)
 Short report on the finding of the study
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3. Annual Report(s), where applicable, containing the study findings
4. 2021‐2031 Nagagami Forest Management Plan and Supplementary
Documentation, if applicable
Recommendation #5:
MNR Wawa District and NFM come to an agreement on the conifer utilization associated
with topping in excess of 10 cm diameter that will, as a minimum, specify precisely:
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
What merchantable material that has been left unutilized without authorization
will be recovered for use and the Crown charges that will apply on this material,
and
What merchantable material that has been left unutilized without authorization is
beyond recovery for economic or other reasons, and the Crown charges that will
apply on this material.
Background
MNR neither approves nor authorizes the SFL to leave merchantable fibre at roadside,
or in the harvest blocks. This practice is considered an operational issue, and therefore
these incidents must be documented. This recommendation is to address a situation
which occurred in the 2006‐2026 FMP. It is not anticipated that this Action Plan will be
used on areas harvested in the current FMP.
Actions required:
1. MNR Wawa District and NFM will review and come to an agreement on the
conifer pile locations where merchantable material will need to be recovered for
use that will require Crown charges to be assessed‐on.
 MNR Wawa District and NFM will work together to establish a scaling
procedure for the Crown to be able to measure Crown charges on
merchantable material left remaining within slash piles.
 MNR Wawa District and NFM will work together to establish the volumes per
block that NFM will be required to pay Crown charges on.
2. MNR Wawa District and NFM will review and come to an agreement on the
conifer pile locations where merchantable material will not be recovered for use
that will require Crown charges to be assessed‐on.
 MNR Wawa District and NFM will work together to establish a scaling
procedure for the Crown to be able to measure Crown charges on
merchantable material left remaining within slash piles.
 MNR Wawa District and NFM will work together to establish the volumes per
block that NFM will be required to pay Crown charges on.
Organization and position responsible:
(Co‐Lead) NFM Forester
(Co‐Lead) Wawa District, Area Supervisor
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Deadline date:
March 31, 2015
Method of tracking progress:
Documentation:




Meeting records
Report of agreement
Documented scaling procedure
Report on volumes per block
Recommendation #6:
NFM investigate the costs and benefits of increased productivity and reduced balsam fir
composition through the use of mechanical site preparation and prescribed burns by
establishing and monitoring trials within the next two years.
Actions required:
1. NFM to form a study team that will define terms of reference, or scope of project
related to the costs and benefits of Mechanical Site Prepared and Prescribed
Burn Areas, in reducing balsam fir regeneration.
 Study team to develop terms of Reference that will describe type of survey
required, requirement for sampling procedure, and method of monitoring.
 Study team to conduct the survey.
2. NFM to analyze study team results and prepare report summarize cost/benefits
Organization and position responsible:
(Lead) NFM Silviculture Specialist
Deadline date:
1. May 31, 2015
2. May 31, 2016
Method of tracking progress:
1. Two points:
 Study team formed. Checklist will be established to outline research project
terms of reference.
 Sample plots may be required, as applicable under the terms of reference.
The plot information will be available for audit purposes.
2. Records, analysis, conclusions and summary report will be available for audit
purposes.
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Recommendation #7:
NFM and MNR Wawa District review compliance reporting practices and ensure that
there is a clear understanding and consistent application of the concept of Operational
Issues associated with compliance inspection reporting requirements.
Actions required:
Conduct quarterly joint compliance meetings involving NFM and MNR Wawa District
representatives.


Standard agenda item for these meetings will be “Operational Issues, their
calibration, and their consistent application associated with reporting
requirements”.
MNR will review meeting minutes on an annual basis.
Organization and position responsible:
(Co‐Lead) NFM Forester
(Co‐Lead) Wawa District, Area Supervisor
Deadline date:
Ongoing through to March 31, 2016.
Method of tracking progress:
Meeting minutes or notes.
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