The area pictured below shows an area that was harvested in the fall of 2003 and depicts a typical harvest operation that takes place on Resolute Forest Products Ontario Woodlands operating area. Several common harvesting practices have been outlined in the image to show how non-timber values are protected during forest management activities.
A riparian reserve is located along the river behind the harvested area or block. Riparian reserves are left adjacent to waterways to maintain water quality, aesthetics and wildlife travel corridors. These reserves also maintain veiwscapes for recreational forest users. This block also contains an area that was harvested using the Careful Logging Around Advanced Growth (CLAAG) technique. CLAAG techniques protect regeneration that has already established itself in the area and helps to promote natural regrowth.
Snags are trees that are left standing after harvesting has occured to provide habitat for various wildlife species such as woodpeckers, pine marten, porcupines, squirrels and so on. The harvesting equipment operators take care in selecting snag trees that are of suitable species type and size to ensure that wildlife habitat requirements are met.
The area outlined at the bottom right of the picture shows a localised swampy area that was protected during harvest operations by directing harvesting equipment to travel around the wet area as much as possible. Also, as shown by the line that follows the top right edge of the block, the boundary between the harvested and not harvested area is not regularly shaped (i.e. the boundary curves and does not appear to be a "cookie cutter" shape). This "shaped" block boundary emulates natural disturbance patterns such as wildfire and wind throw.