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These photos were taken in a private woodlot located in the municipality of Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs, Quebec. In order to preserve it, work is required to ensure its long term health and growth for future generations.
The objective is one of sustainable forest management, a forest management philosophy based on treating all resources in the forest in a way that doesn’t compromise it.
In private woodlots, owners are the stewards of the forest's resources and by being actively involved in the management of their woodlot, they demonstrate an awareness of this important responsibility, and they restore it to be able to enjoy it much longer.
Sustainable forest management activities in the private woodlot illustrated here began in February 2022, under the supervision of a forest engineer and his team who conducted an environmental analysis in recent months. To share best practices to keep this ecosystem healthy and sustainable, we will on occasion share the evolution of the projects and their benefits on this page.
Benefits of forest management planning
Forest management planning ensures that operations support sustainable forestry. Development of management plans follows a strict process which, although varying by jurisdiction, generally involves receiving input from industry, government agencies, the public and other stakeholders. The aim is to ensure that forestry operations and related activities are carried out in ways that support the sustainable management of all forest resources for generations to come.
In addition to forest management plans, more detailed tactical plans (to guide road building and harvest schedules, for example) are drawn up for specific operating areas and extend over a period of years. As well, annual operating plans identify exactly where and how harvesting operations and regeneration activities should occur in given years. (Source: Government of Canada, Forest management planning)
Sustainable Forest Management Planning
Forest management planning ensures that operations support sustainable forestry. Development of management plans follows a strict process which, although varying by jurisdiction, generally involves receiving input from industry, government agencies, the public and other stakeholders. The aim is to ensure that forestry operations and related activities are carried out in ways that support the sustainable management of all forest resources for generations to come.
In addition to forest management plans, more detailed tactical plans (intervention schedules, for example) can be drawn up for specific areas and can extend over a number of years. As well, annual operating plans identify exactly where and how the removal of certain trees and regeneration activities should occur in given years.
Source: Government of Canada, Forest management planning
An even-aged forest is one in which relatively small age differences exist between individual trees. In an uneven-aged forest, intermingling trees differ markedly in age, meaning that the trees are also of different height and diameter.
This type of cutting is similar to sanitation cutting. It is the removal of certain trees that are dead, dying, or deteriorating e.g., because overmature or materially damaged by fire, wind, insects, fungi, or other injurious agencies. (Source: Natural Resources Canada)
This type of cutting involves the removal of dead, damaged or susceptible trees, essentially to prevent the spread of pests or pathogens and help promote forest hygiene. (Source: Natural Resources Canada)
The forest engineer is a certified professional responsible for managing, planning and integrating all aspects of sustainable forest management. These individuals are forestry experts. They work in the fields of management, development, protection, and conservation of territorial and forest resources. They give advice, monitor, carry out, or direct work related to the exploitation of forest resources (assessment of forest land and area, preparation of maps and topographical plans of forests, etc.). They also interface with various federal, provincial and municipal entities and representatives (e.g. Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, municipal environment and urban planning departments).
The forest management plan, signed by a forestry engineer, allows the owner to know his wooded lot well and better develop it by making informed decisions. The FMP is the document that will be used to register as a recognized forestry producer. Usually covering a period of several decades, it must :
(Source: Government of Canada, Forest management planning)
Quebec’s private forests surround our cities and villages. They represent 17% of all productive forests, and 94% of private forests are productive, so the majority have forest development potential. Private woodlots are owned by 133,700 individuals, families, small businesses and large corporations. There are 28,100 registered forest producers, woodlot owners who officially hold the forest producer certificate. (Source: Fédération des producteurs forestiers du Québec. La forêt privée chiffrée, 2021, revised in July 2021, 36 p.)
A survey of a forest area to determine data such as area, condition, timber, volume and species for a specific purpose, such as planning or managing. (Source: Natural Resources Canada)
Sustainable forest management aims to maintain and improve the health of forest ecosystems over the long term for the benefit of all, while providing future and current generations with good environmental, economic, social and cultural prospects. (Source: Canadian Council of Forest Ministers (CCMF), 1992)
Selective cutting is performed on trees selected individually or in small groups taking care to protect those who are free from malformations and diseases. It aims to diversify the composition of the forest with trees of all ages. This partial cutting enhances the vigour of the forest stand and frees up space for the growth of young trees. It is appropriate in a forest where the trees are of various sizes and ages, what is also known as an uneven-aged forest. (Source : Ressources naturelles Québec)
