Scott Davis Forest Certification Coordinator Eastern Ontario Model Forest

1. Scott DavisForest Certification Coordinator Eastern Ontario Model Forest Conserving Large Woodlands – Essential to Healthy Communities January 31st 2008

2. Presentation Outline • Forest Communities Program • Eastern Ontario Model Forest • Brief Overview of Private Land & Community Forests in Ontario • EOMF Forest Certification Program • How EOMF can assist Partners

3. What is A Model Forest Is defined as a working scale forest-dominated land-base, where the most appropriate sustainable forest management practices are developed, tested and shared, in a partnership with local stakeholders and others who will benefit from the gained experiences.

4. Eastern Ontario Model Forest 1991-2007 Putting down Roots… Progressive Partnerships • From IRM to SFM • TOE Trails and Outdoor Education • FFC-Forming the Ferguson Forest Centre • Ice Storm Response • Private Woodlot Strategic Initiatives • Forest Certification • The Unholy Alliance • The Zeal to Deal • “A settled landscape”

5. Canadian Model Forest Program ■ Formed in 1992 by the CFS ■ Network of 11 Model Forests ■ Member of an International Network ■ Model Forests Serve as a Demonstration to Achieve SFM ■ International Destination - Canadian Forest Management

6. Forest Communities Program

7. 1.5 million hectares • 88% of forests are privately owned • Home to over 1 million people • Settled landscape – hardwood dominant • Membership and partner driven organization • Viewed as an honest broker • Managed by a board of dircetors • “A Forest For Seven Generations” Eastern Ontario Model Forest

8. Ottawa Cornwall Gananoque

9. EOMF Objective Areas 2007 - 2012 Objective 1; To work with industry and community-level stakeholders to develop new and advance existing forest based opportunities Objective 2; Work with partners to pilot ideas, conduct research and develop integrated approaches to respond to a forest landscape in transition Objective 3; Develop and share forest management knowledge, practices, and tools with local, national and international forest dependant communities

10. Spheres of Influence

11. Some EOMF Projects • Demonstration Forests (60) • Private Land Forest Certification • Mapping & Information Services • Species at Risk OMNR partnership • Eastern Ontario Urban Forest Network • State of the Forest Reporting • Publications – Agro forestry BMP – Maple Mgt

12. Private Land Forestry in Ontario • Represents about 11% or 7 million hectares – 87% of southern Ontario is private • 80% of southern Ontario woodlands area 10 acres or less – personal use • Represents very high value hardwood log source for Ontario • Taxation, Classification, IG Transfers, Regulations - Tree Cutting By Laws • Timber Sales - fair payment – Logger Standards or Certification • Management planning support & cost – MFTIP • Woodlot Certification of private lands in Ontario – is it a $ feasible option

14. Community (County) Forests in Ontario • Agreement Forest Program 1921-1998 – reforest lands – erosion, flooding • Partnership between agreement holder (County) and OMNR • Starting 1994 the MNR transferred management back to Municipalities • Today a wide range of management strategies – very little to intensive • Many Values – recreation, hunting, education, habitat, wetlands, revenue • Many have Advisory Committees – volunteer groups • 31 Municipal Forests covering 84,000 hectares – many red pine plantations • Currently 13 of these had forest management plans

15. What is Forest Certification? • A voluntary market based program to give consumers choice to purchase “well managed” products • Independent third party evaluation of forest management practices – considering environmental, social and economic values. • Recognition of good forest management

16. Certification Types • Forest Certification • Resource Manager • Group Certification • Product Certification • Chain of Custody

17. Why Forest Certification in the EOMF • Landowner and Partner Interest in Forest Certification • No existing organizations in place Co-ops, marketing boards • Mandate of the Forest Communities Program – Learn & Transfer • Certification Working Group – Broad Representation • Credible tool to implement Sustainable Forest Management – private & community forests

18. Third Party Certification Systems for Forestry in Canada • Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) • Canadian Standards Association (CSA) • Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI)

19. Forest Stewardship Council • Formed in 1993 in response to consumers’ concerns • Only system applicable to private land - prescriptive • Has certified 750 forests in 79 countries • Has established Standards for forest regions - GLSL • System most widely endorsed by ENGO’s

20. FSC 10 Principles & Criteria 1. Meet all applicable laws 2. Have legally established rights 3. Respect Indigenous Peoples rights 4. Maintain community well-being 5. Conserve economic resources 6. Protect biological diversity 7. A written management plan 8. Regular monitoring 9. Maintain high conservation value forests 10. Manage plantations to reduce pressures on natural forests

21. No. of hectares of FSC forest worldwide Total FSC Certified Forest 71,637,263 May 2007 Sweden 13 138 298 haPoland 6 806 160 ha USA 7 939 850 haCanada 19 85 553 ha

22. EOMF Certification Program

23. Eastern Ontario Certified Forest Owners Group4000 ha represented through 65 landowners • Farm Woodlot Owners • Sawmill Operators • Absent Landowners • Cottage Owners • Organized Groups • Maple Syrup Producers • Retired Forest Owners

24. Eastern Ontario Certified Forest Owners 9 member Board of Directors Mission Statement Constitution Marketing Committee Membership Fees $50 to offset workshops fees - audit Education, Networking, Workshops MOU with the EOMF All have a forest mgt plan

25. SD&G Certified Forest Owners • Board of Directors – OMNR Stewardship Partnership • Growing membership 30 forest owners • Educational workshops, sharing experiences • Providing FSC wood to market

26. FSC Certified Community Forests in eastern Ontario • Larose certified through South Nation Conservation 11000 ha • South Nation Conservation owned lands certified 3700 ha • SD&G municipal lands certified 3400 ha • Lanark County Forest recently certified – 4600 ha • Total of 22,700 acres of certified community forests

27. Benefits Private & Community Forests • Technical assistance for forest managers - contacts • GLSL Standards for best management practices • Affordable option for all – private and community • Credibility, accountability for forest operations • Framework for management – at all stages • Access to markets that may not be otherwise be available • All values accounted for – environmental, social, economic

28. EOMF FSC Certification Program- Summary • FSC certified for 5 years – has been recertified for 5 more • 22000 ha of certified community forest • 4000 ha of certified private land • Created toolkits, guidebooks & manuals for internal use & as a tool for others • EOMF can include and certify maple syrup producers • Brought over 1.5 million board feet of FSC wood to market • Organized 26 workshops – logging damage, pine mgt, tree marking, wetlands & woodlands, taxes, old growth, chainsaw safety - with partner organizations • Shared lessons learned throughout Ontario & beyond

29. How EOMF can assist Partners • Assist with the technical challenges of FSC certification • Policies and Procedures Manual • Guidebooks and information exchange • Chain Of Custody Toolkit • Site visits to assist forest managers/sawmill owners • Input towards a gap analysis – certification readiness • Bring Forests into our program and certify them

31. Thanks

42. Scott Davis Eastern Ontario Model Forest (613) 258-8422