branching out JUNE 2007 NEWSLETTER OF THE FOREST RESOURCE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION OF (FRIAA)

10 years of success in caring for the forest

The Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA) celebrates its 10th anniversary this year— and 10 years of outstanding success. On April 1, 1997, Alberta delegated to FRIAA the responsibility to levy dues on crown timber harvested in the province, and disburse those funds for projects that would improve the forest resource for all values and all Albertans. Cliff Henderson, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Forestry Division of Sustainable Resource Development, says it was a good decision. “It created an excellent part- nership between government Woodland Caribou Woodland • and industry to get this work done,” he says. “It has also been good for the people of Alberta—streamlining govern- ment and investing millions of Delaney Anderson $150 million has been invested in forest resource improvement dollars in the sustainability of our forests.” The government’s goal is to ensure the long-term the Community Reforestation Program, and manages sustainability of public forests, Henderson says, and grants that support the Mountain Pine Beetle Program FRIAA has proven a perfect partner in pursuing that and the Wildfire Reclamation Program.

National Award Award National goal. Thanks to its management of interest-bearing • Trevor Wakelin, long-time president of the accounts, FRIAA has been able to disburse more than FRIAA Board, says the fact government has added new $152.5 million on 1,057 projects over the past 10 years, programs for FRIAA to administer shows the level of on dues revenues of $144.2 million. competency and trust that has evolved. “It’s been an Dues from timber operators rise and fall with market overwhelming success,” he said. “It is achieving pub- prices for forest products, and currently generate no lic objectives, and also assuring industry that project revenue for FRIAA. However, the organization has suf- approvals and disbursements can be handled quickly, ficient reserves to continue its FRIP commitments for with very low administrative costs.” the foreseeable future. FRIAA administers the Forest Resource Improvement Legacy Project Project Legacy

inside Program (FRIP), the Incidental Conifer Program and FRIAA can be reached at (780) 429-5873. Public accountability . . . Board member’s role is to represent the public interest It has been my pleasure to were communicated so that check out our information resources as well serve as public member on practices on the ground as the many educational projects supported FRIAA’s board of directors for could be improved. by FRIAA. the last nine years - almost as The work of FRIAA’s New pressures and challenges will mean long as FRIAA has been in Forest Resource Improve- continued and emerging challenges for FRIAA, existence. ment Program allows me to and the public should rest assured that its One of the strengths continue in this role. When interest in these matters is always front and of FRIAA has always been issues and projects come up centre in our discussions and decisions. enabling legislation and a for discussion, I bring a pub- mandate that requires the lic perspective to the debate. various members of our I also have an opportunity to board to be accountable to contribute to implementa- the stakeholders they rep- tion of educational and sus- resent, whether the general tainable forest management public, the government, large Dave Kiil programs through FRIAA’s industry or smaller commu- Open Funds initiative. branching out nity operators. The crown forests are publicly-owned, and A glance through past annual reports FRIAA was created by the public’s represen- will show how that accountability has been tatives in government, so plainly the public’s branching out is the newsletter achieved and measured each year, in terms voice is very important to how FRIAA con- of the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA) of fiscal responsibility, legislative compliance ducts its affairs. It has always been gratifying and public outreach. to find that the diverse interests represented branching out is published quarterly That last role is especially important to by other members of the board continue to to communicate the objectives and activi- me. In my career with the Canadian Forest be open and receptive to public opinions ties of the association to members and Service, it was always a priority for me to expressed through me, and to my own input other interested parties. ensure research undertaken had some rela- provided on behalf of a public that cares very tionship to actual problems being encoun- deeply, and always craves more information, The purpose of FRIAA is to enhance the tered, and then to ensure research results about its forests. I encourage Albertans to timber and non-timber forest resources of Alberta for the benefit of all Albertans. It encourages improved forest manage- ment activities over and above those required by government regulation.

Undeliverable copies should be returned to Board of Directors, 2006-07 MediaMatch West Communications Inc., #4, 10028-29A Avenue FRIAAPresident: , Alberta T6N 1A8 Trevor Wakelin, Millar Western Forest Products Ltd., Edmonton Vice-President: For more copies of this issue or to be James Bocking, Small Operator Representative, Hinton added to the mailing list, please contact Second Vice-President: FRIAA in Edmonton Doug Sklar, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Edmonton Phone (780) 429-5873 Treasurer: Fax (780) 428-5190 Murray Summers, Blue Ridge Lumber Inc., Whitecourt ISSN: 1703-1044 Directors: Dave Kiil, Public Member, Edmonton Editorial material in this newsletter may Bruce Macmillan, Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd., Edmonton be reproduced and disseminated with Dwight Weeks, Canadian Forest Products Ltd., the following credit attached: “Courtesy Manager: of Forest Resource Improvement Todd Nash, BearingPoint, Edmonton Association of Alberta.” FRIAA administration: Phone: (780) 429-5873 Post Corporation Fax: (780) 428-5190 Agreement # 40009376 E-mail: [email protected] • Website: www.friaa.ab.ca Customer # 01056026

June 2007 June 2007 Marking 10 years . . . Legacy project will take shape at Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton Directors of the Forest Resource forest resource for Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA) all Albertans and of have allotted $1.25 million for a forestry educating and com- exhibit at the Royal Alberta Museum. municating with The gift is to create a legacy marking the public about FRIAA’s 10 years of maintaining and enhanc- the importance of a ing Alberta’s forest resources. The funds, to diverse, productive be disbursed over the next 10 years, will sup- forest ecosystem. port creation of a forestry segment within the “One of the best “Wild Alberta” gallery. The gallery contains aspects for us is dioramas and exhibits that bring the context that the museum and history of Alberta features to life. has some very “The details of how exactly it will be active educational done and how it will look will be negotiated programs, with between FRIAA and the museum,” said Dave 50,000 grade 4

Kiil, public representative on FRIAA’s board. and 6 students Royal Alberta Museum “But it will be a tremendous legacy project attending last Alberta life takes centre stage at the Royal Alberta Museum celebrating 10 years of our operations, as year. This will help well as an opportunity for the museum to inform young people about our forests, not have an impact on funds available for add a new exhibit to a facility that already both through school visits and, ultimately, FRIAA’s ongoing programs. attracts 200,000 visitors a year.” through the Alberta SuperNet that reaches Kiil believes the exhibit will reflect and fit right across the province,” Kiil said. For more information, call the FRIAA well with FRIAA’s mandate of enhancing the The $1.25 million in legacy funds will office at (780) 429-5873.

FRIAA-supported organization wins national recognition for partnership building

Foothills Model Forest, headquartered to hear about sustainability, and the role for- the benefits over the years of diverse in Hinton and a frequent partner with est managers and researchers can play, said partnerships working together FRIAA in forest resource Podlubny. towards environmental integrity on improvement projects, “The award recognized the landscape,” said Podlubny. “I has won a national sus- the unique and sucessul way think this recognition says a lot about tainability award. we have created broad part- our programs, and the partners who Manager Don Podlubny nerships,” he said. “It’s those support us.” travelled to Montreal partnerships and collaborative in late April to accept relationships that will lead us the first-ever Syncrude towards sustainability.” Award for Excellence in The institute cited the Sustainable Development. Grizzly Bear Research Program, The award was presented in which FRIAA has participat- at the annual confer- ed, as one example of a broad FRIAAANNUAL ence and exhibition of and successful partnership. GENERAL the Canadian Institute of Don Podlubny The model forest has many Mining, Metallurgy and other projects that bring public, MEETING Petroleum. The institute represents aboriginal, industry and goverment partners 12,000 professionals in the minerals, together to generate the science required to will be held metals and energy industries. tackle complex and urgent problems. Thursday, June 21 With all the competing pressures on The model forest was nominated by Elk at 5:30 p.m. today’s landscape, especially in Alberta, Valley Coal, which operates the Cheviot it was a good forum for such industries Mine near Hinton. “Elk Valley has seen Old Timer’s Cabin Edmonton

June 2007 June 2007 Project update . . . Protecting calves at birth helps boost caribou survival rate The Forest Resource Improvement animals. FRIAA funding also Association of Alberta (FRIAA) has supports the Caribou Landscape supported woodland caribou research since Management Association its inception 10 years ago. (CLMA). FRIAA, eight forest companies and the The association includes all Foothills Model Forest have invested almost the forest companies and the $5.5 million during the last 10 years on major oil and gas producers projects designed to improve understanding operating in the A La Peche and and management of caribou, their habitat Little Smoky caribou ranges, and the human activities that affect their as well as the Aseniwuche range. Winewak Nation of Canada. Over the past decade, 36 projects have The association was formed to been funded. One focuses on discovering minimize the impact of industrial

how caribou and mountain pine beetle activity and development on the Caribou Landscape Management Association management strategies can mesh together caribou and its habitat within the Caribou feed in a secure pen and how future timber harvest plans might ranges. be integrated with both streams of activity. The endangered Little Smoky herd has the association joined Alberta Sustainable Other research looks at the effectiveness been in decline mostly due to predation Resource Development, Husky Energy and of special road patrols and signage to from wolves. In particular, newborns are BP Canada in developing the Little Smoky warn drivers, roadside reflectors to reduce easily preyed upon by increasing numbers Caribou Calf Project, based on the highly collisions with ungulates and a taste-aversion of predators in the area. To bring about an successful Chisana Caribou project in the agent that reduces the appeal of road salt to immediate increase in calf survival rates, Yukon that increased survival rates from 12.5 per cent to 75 per cent. The Little Smoky Caribou Calf Project involved capturing and protecting 10 pregnant females and eventually their offspring in an enclosure secure from predators. The caribou mothers and calves were kept in the protected area until the calves were strong enough to avoid the predators on their own. “Results for the enclosed animals are promising,” says Wayne Thorp, CLMA’s director. “The unprotected calves also experienced an increase in survival after their release. We believe this is probably due to the fact that the government conducted a wolf control program at the same time.”

For more information. contact FRIAA at Caribou Landscape Management Association Some direct intervention led to a promising increase in calf survival rates (780) 429-5873.

PM 40009376