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Site Protection in Forestry Operations

Learn about minimizing disturbance in forestry operations in the boreal forest, understanding site damage issues, and implementing best management practices. Explore case studies, assess site damage in the field, identify sensitive sites, and propose effective management practices.

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Site Protection in Forestry Operations

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  1. Site Protection in Forestry Operations Welcome

  2. We are here to … • Minimize unnecessary disturbance due to forestry operations in the boreal forest

  3. Our Goals • To increase understanding of site damage issues, and their impact on forest sustainability • To understand the policy and legal aspects of site damage • Review “best management practices” at every level

  4. Agenda Day 1 • Background, definitions and Legislation • Six types damage • Site impacts • Sensitive sites • BMP’s • Case studies

  5. Agenda Day 2 • Apply tools, skills and knowledge to • Assess site damage in the field • Identify sensitive sites, features and risks • Propose best management practices

  6. Comfort Notes … • Washrooms • Snacks and breaks • Phones • …

  7. Questions?

  8. Background

  9. Policy and Legislation • Required by EA Term and Condition 94b • MNR’s evidence suggested that forestry operations were not causing significant harm to the environment • Crown Forest Sustainability Act ~ Sec 55 deals with “damage” by forest operations

  10. Policy and Legislation • Forest Management Guidelines for the Protection of the Physical Environment (1997) • Originally intended to documentexisting practices for protection of sites during forestry operations

  11. Policy and Legislation • Guidelines should primarily • Increase the level of awareness of site disturbance issues across the Province, and • Improve the standard of practice with respectto protection of the physical environment

  12. Policy and Legislation • Guidelines for the Protection of the Physical Environment are part of Ontario’s forest legislation • Guidelines given legal strength through the regulated Forest Operations and Silviculture Manual

  13. Key Definitions

  14. Site Disturbance • Specific changes/impacts to forest sites resulting from forest management operations (harvest and forest renewal) • 6 key impacts have potential to result in site damage

  15. Types of Site Disturbance • Compaction and rutting • Erosion • Nutrient loss • Loss of productive land • Hydrological impacts • Damage to residual trees and vegetation

  16. Site Disturbance • Site disturbance does not necessarily equate to site damage

  17. Site Damage • Damage occurs when the site disturbance (due to forest management operations) results in long-term negative impacts on the health and productivity of a forest ecosystem

  18. Site Damage • The point at which site disturbance becomes site damage is poorly defined • Public’s perception of damage undoubtedly occurs before real (scientifically provable) damage occurs

  19. Perceptions of Site Damage

  20. Site Productivity • Ability of a site to accumulate plant biomass over time • Maintaining timber yield and • The production of all plants and animals in a forest ecosystem (forest or ecosystem productivity)

  21. Sensitive Sites • Sites which have a high probability of damage if managed according to the standard operating practices

  22. Sensitive Sites • Sensitivity of many sites is influenced by weather and season • Sensitive sites may be operated without damage by using modified operating techniques (i.e., Best Management Practices)

  23. Best Management Practices • Sometimes called Good Management Practices • Operating techniques which are used to prevent or minimize site disturbance on sensitive sites • They are not mandatory techniques • They are not an exhaustive list of good practices

  24. Discussion • Unrealistic to expect site disturbance to be eliminated • Site damage can be eliminated by • Increasing awareness of issues, and • Applying best management practices suited to local site and economic conditions

  25. Discussion • Increasing awareness of site damage / site disturbance issues is the main challenge in improving the standard of practice in Ontario

  26. Questions?

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