Forest management planning in Ontario is a very complex and highly regulated process. All aspects, including timber and non-timber values, are taken into consideration.
In order to provide the detail required in a Forest Management Plan (FMP), the planning is done in teams of 10 to 12 and can take up to 36 months to complete. The planning team represents different forest interest groups from operational foresters to an
OMNR biologist.
Forest management plans that contain the long-term management direction are prepared for a ten-year period with two five-year operational terms that provide details of operations. In addition to this, an
Annual Work Schedule (AWS) is prepared every year, detailing specific operations such as road construction, planned harvest areas and silviculture activities which will take place in that year.
As a part of the licensing agreement between the
OMNR and the
SFL holder, all Forest Management Plans and Annual Work Schedules must be approved by the
OMNR before operations can begin.