Sustainable Forest Management Workshop

The Sustainable Forest Management Workshop was held in April 1997 and was led by Dr. Peter Duinker, then of Lakehead University now at Dalhousie University, and Jeremy Williams of Arborvitae Environmental Services. The 22 participants included Model Forest partners and members of the Integrated Resource Advisory Committee (IRAC) of the Cochrane District of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.Participants left the meeting knowing more about the Canadian Council of Forest Minister’s six criteria for sustainable forest management, and their related sub-elements. The six criteria are:

• Conservation of Biological Diversity

• Maintenance and Enhancement of Forest Ecosystem Condition and Productivity

• Conservation of Soil and Water Resources

• Contribution to Global Ecological Cycles

• Providing Multiple Benefits to Society

• Accepting Society’s Responsibility for Sustainable Development

They were exposed to the process of value sharing, and also worked an example value through the hierarchy from criterion to indicator.

The workshop was an excellent introduction to the criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management. As a result of this workshop, the participants were better prepared and possessed the basic knowledge to begin the process of developing local level indicators for the Lake Abitibi Model Forest. Partners in this project included Lakehead University, Arborvitae Environmental Services, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Cochrane District, and Lake Abitibi Model Forest members.