Smooth Rock Falls Forest – Independent Forest Audit 2005-2010 Audit Report TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Executive Summary .........................................................................................................iii 2.0 Table of Recommendations and Best Practices ............................................................... 1 3.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 2 3.1 Audit Process ...................................................................................................................... 2 3.2 Management Unit Description ............................................................................................... 3 3.3 Current Issues ..................................................................................................................... 3 3.4 Summary of Consultation and Input to Audit .......................................................................... 4 4.0 Audit Findings .................................................................................................................. 4 4.1 Commitment ....................................................................................................................... 4 4.2 Public Consultation and Aboriginal Involvement ...................................................................... 4 4.3 Forest Management Planning ................................................................................................ 6 4.4 Plan Assessment and Implementation ................................................................................. 11 4.5 System Support ................................................................................................................. 18 4.6 Monitoring ........................................................................................................................ 18 4.7 Achievement of Management Objectives and Sustainability ................................................... 22 Trend Analysis Report ..................................................................................................... 22 Achievement of Management Objectives .......................................................................... 23 Forest Sustainability ....................................................................................................... 23 4.8 Contractual Obligations ...................................................................................................... 23 4.9 Conclusions and Licence Extension Recommendation ............................................................ 24 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Recommendations ...................................................................................................... 24 Appendix 2 – Management Objectives Tables ................................................................................... 58 Appendix 3 – Compliance with Contractual Obligations ..................................................................... 61 Appendix 4 – Audit Process ............................................................................................................. 63 Appendix 5 – List of Acronyms ........................................................................................................ 68 Appendix 6 – Audit Team Members and Qualifications ....................................................................... 69 Appendix 7 – Comparison and Trend Analysis Report ........................................................................ 72 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Forest management plans within audit scope. ........................................................................ 3 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Location of the SRFF in relation to Northeastern Ontario and surrounding Forest Management Units and communities as well as the amalgamated Abitibi River Forest ............. 2 Figure 2. (Left) Proportion of forest cover by working group. (Right) Age class distribution .................... 3 Figure 3. Planned vs. actual silviculture program ............................................................................... 14 ii Smooth Rock Falls Forest – Independent Forest Audit 2005-2010 Audit Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report, for the Smooth Rock Falls Forest (SRFF or ‘the Forest’), documents the results of an Independent Forest Audit conducted by KBM Forestry Consultants Inc. All Crown forests in Ontario are required to be audited at least every five years; the requirement for independent audits arising from MNR's Class Environmental Assessment Approval for Forest Management on Crown Lands in Ontario (2003). Regulation 160/04 of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (S.O. 1994, c. 25) (CFSA) sets out the specific requirements for conducting the audits. KBM Forestry Consultants Inc. conducted an independent forest audit on the SRFF for the five-year period April 1, 2005 to March 31, 2010. The audit assessed implementation and selected aspects of planning of the final five years of the 2005-10 FMP and planning for the 2010-20 FMP which was not finalized and instead became the 2010-12 Contingency Plan for the amalgamated Cochrane Area Forest (subsequently the Abitibi River Forest). The on-site component of the audit occurred from September 13 to 27, 2010. Document review and interviews occurred throughout the audit process. During the audit term the Forest was managed under an SFL held by Tembec Inc. The principal auditees were the Tembec and the MNR Cochrane District. Based on the audit, 25 recommendations were made. Recommendations arise from audit team observations of material non-conformances, or may be developed to address situations in which the audit team identifies a significant lack of effectiveness in forest management activities. All audit recommendations are directed at either MNR or Abitibi River Forest Management Inc., a cooperative SFL holder who assumed management responsibilities on the Abitibi River Forest effective April 1, 2010. The majority of recommendations centred on deficiencies in the area of forest management planning. However, the key recommendations, discussed below, arose from audit team observations made in the field. A best practice was identified for the ongoing multi-partner woodland caribou research project that is providing valuable information to inform forest management planning and another for the comprehensive monitoring of silvicultural effectiveness and compliance by MNR. Of the 25 audit recommendations there are three areas of concern that are considered key since they highlight the need to significantly alter certain current practices on the Forest in the interest of sustainability. The first area of concern arises from the lack of clear direction from the Province that has allowed forest operations to leave significant amounts of waste wood fibre (slash) at roadside where it occupies productive forest land and prevents establishment of regeneration. This practice is not unique to the SRFF or the amalgamated Abitibi River Forest; management of waste wood (both slash and chipper debris) has been a recurring issue for years as evidenced by the many recommendations made in previous IFAs across Ontario. Only a change at the Provincial policy level, supported by forest management plan commitments and enforcement of such commitments through the Provincial compliance program is likely to lead to an effective, permanent solution. The second area of concern is associated with implementation of harvesting patterns that protect existing regeneration on upland sites. In the audit team’s view this practice will lead to degrading of future stand composition through retention of less desirable species that will form a higher component of the new stand, and reduced productivity due to the inherently higher levels of competition on upland sites, resulting in lower stocking levels. A third related area of concern is the retention of mature larch seed trees in harvest blocks which is also contributing to a significant increase in the larch component on lowland sites. The audit team concluded that management of the Smooth Rock Falls Forest was generally in compliance with the legislation, regulations and policies that were in effect during the audit term and the Forest was managed in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Sustainable Forest Licence held by Tembec Inc. Forest sustainability is being achieved, as assessed through the Independent Forest Audit Process and Protocol. iii KBM Forestry Consultants Inc. Smooth Rock Falls Forest – Independent Forest Audit 2005-2010 Audit Report No recommendation is made on licence extension since a new licence with a twenty year term was issued to Abitibi River Forest Management Inc. for the Abitibi River Forest in August 2010. A recommendation on licence extension will occur at the next IFA. Rod Seabrook, EP(EMSLA) Lead Auditor, on behalf of the audit team iv KBM Forestry Consultants Inc. Smooth Rock Falls Forest – Independent Forest Audit 2005-2010 Audit Report 1.0 TABLE OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND BEST PRACTICES Recommendation on Licence Extension The audit team concludes that management of the Smooth Rock Falls Forest was generally in compliance with the legislation, regulations and policies that were in effect during the term covered by the audit, and the Forest was managed in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Sustainable Forest Licence held by Tembec Inc. Forest sustainability is being achieved, as assessed through the Independent