SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN CANFOR ALBERTA FMA AREA #9900037 CERTIFICATION UNDER CSA Z809-16 SEPTEMBER 2017 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Canfor wishes to express appreciation to all members of the Canfor Forest Management Advisory Committee, Norbord Inc., and Government of Alberta (GoA) for the time, effort and expertise contributed toward the development of this Sustainable Forest Management Plan. Canfor would also like to thank the many individuals who provided information or contributed to specific components of this document. Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES ............................................................................. V LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................... VII COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT ...... IX EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................... XV 1.0 INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW ............................................... 17 2.0 GUIDING PRINCIPLES ............................................................. 19 3.0 THE DEFINED FOREST AREA ................................................ 21 3.1 AREA DESCRIPTION ............................................................................................................. 21 3.1.1 Overview ....................................................................................................................... 21 3.1.2 Communities ................................................................................................................. 22 3.1.3 Area Economy .............................................................................................................. 22 3.1.4 DFA Description .......................................................................................................... 23 3.1.5 Species at Risk .............................................................................................................. 26 3.1.6 Defined Forest Area Use .............................................................................................. 26 4.0 THE PLANNING PROCESS ..................................................... 32 4.1 THE CANADIAN STANDARDS ASSOCIATION CERTIFICATION PROCESS ............................... 32 4.1.1 Public and Indigenous Involvement: Performance Requirements and Measures ........ 32 4.1.2 Environmental Management System Components........................................................ 33 4.1.3 Canadian Standards Association Registration ............................................................. 34 4.1.4 Audits and Public Review ............................................................................................. 35 4.2 THE DEFINED FOREST AREA SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANNING PROCESS 35 4.2.1 Public Participation ..................................................................................................... 35 5.0 STRATEGY GUIDING THE SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN ................................................................... 38 5.1 FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN .............................................................................................. 38 5.2 SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN STRATEGY FOR THE DEFINED FOREST AREA 38 5.3 ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE ...................................................................................................... 38 6.0 INDICATORS & INDICATOR MATRICES ................................ 40 6.1 OBJECTIVES, INDICATORS & TARGETS ................................................................................ 40 6.2 BASELINE FOR INDICATORS ................................................................................................. 40 6.3 CURRENT STATUS OF INDICATORS ...................................................................................... 40 6.4 FORECASTING ...................................................................................................................... 41 6.5 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS ........................................................................................................ 41 6.6 RESPONSE ............................................................................................................................ 41 6.7 INDICATORS IN THE SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN ...................................... 42 1.1.1 Representation of Ecological Communities at the Landscape Level ................... 42 1.1.2 Distribution of Forest Type .................................................................................. 46 i 1.1.3a) Old Interior Forest ............................................................................................. 49 1.1.3b) Patch Size .......................................................................................................... 52 1.1.3c) Seral Stage ......................................................................................................... 56 1.1.4a) Structural Retention ........................................................................................... 63 1.1.4b) Balancing Fibre and Ecological Factors in Burned Forests .............................. 65 1.1.4c) Balancing Fibre and Ecological Factors in Blowdown Forest Areas ................ 67 1.2.1a) Trumpeter Swans ............................................................................................... 69 1.2.1b) Mineral Licks .................................................................................................... 73 1.2.2a) Caribou .............................................................................................................. 75 1.2.2b) Bull Trout and Arctic Grayling Fish Risk ......................................................... 82 1.2.2c) Barred Owl ....................................................................................................... 87 1.2.2d) Road Density ..................................................................................................... 91 1.2.3 Native Seedlings Used In Reforestation ............................................................... 93 1.3 Genetic Diversity of the Seedlings Used In Reforestation ...................................... 94 1.4.1a) Consultation on Provincially Protected Areas ................................................... 96 1.4.1b) Protection of Sites with Geological, Heritage, or Cultural Significance ........... 98 1.4.2a) Consultation on Areas of Special Biological Significance .............................. 100 1.4.2b) Management Strategies for Sites of Geological, Heritage, or Cultural Significance ................................................................................................................. 102 2.1.1a) Prompt Reforestation to Maintain Forest Condition and Productivity ............ 104 2.1.1b) Success of Reforestation Program to Promote Condition and Productivity.... 106 2.1.1c) Growth Rate of Regenerating Forests to Promote Forest Condition and Productivity ................................................................................................................. 108 2.1.2 Noxious Weeds ................................................................................................... 111 2.1.3 Maintenance of the Forested Landbase .............................................................. 113 2.1.4 Balancing Approved Harvest Level over 5 Years .............................................. 116 3.1.1a) Maintaining or Enhancing Soil Productivity by Minimizing Soil Disturbance118 3.1.1b) Maintaining or Enhancing Soil Productivity by Minimizing Soil Erosion and Slumping ..................................................................................................................... 120 3.1.2 Coarse Woody Debris ......................................................................................... 122 3.2.1 Watershed Risk Level Assessments ................................................................... 125 3.2.2a) Drainage Structures ......................................................................................... 130 3.2.2b) Effective Water Crossings and Maintenance .................................................. 134 3.2.2c) Riparian Management ..................................................................................... 136 4.1.1 Carbon Uptake and Storage Monitoring ............................................................. 138 4.1.2 Maintenance of Carbon Uptake and Storage ...................................................... 140 4.2 Sustained Yield of Timber ..................................................................................... 141 5.1.1a) Timber Benefits ............................................................................................... 142 5.1.1b) Diversity of Timber and Non-Timber Products .............................................. 143 5.1.1c) Maintenance of Recreational Areas ................................................................. 145 5.1.2a) Communications with Trappers ...................................................................... 148 5.1.2b) Purchase and Sales with other Forest Products Businesses ............................ 150 5.1.2c) Communications with Local Municipalities, Communities, and Forest Users 152 5.2.1a) Local Contract Services ................................................................................... 154 5.2.1b) Community Involvement ................................................................................ 157 5.2.2 Employees and Contractors with Environmental and Safety Training............... 159 5.2.3 Direct and Indirect