Input sought on forest management

N.R.A.C. is the acronym for Natural Resources Advisory Committee for the Fort Frances district office of the Ministry of Natural Resources.
This committee was formed in 1995 as a result of a provincial government mandate that required each MNR district manager to assemble a local citizens committee (commonly referred to as a L.C.C.)
N.R.A.C. is a volunteer committee of 12 area residents from varying backgrounds and interest groups. They answer to the district manager and their mandate is two-fold.
N.R.A.C.’s first role is to provide advice to the district manager on local resource management decisions, so the resulting activities are ecologically-sound, sustain Ontario’s renewable resources, are fair to affected parties, and consider the needs of all Ontario residents.
Its second role is to improve communication between the public and MNR.
The committee strives to have a cross-section of area communities represented in the group. As well, members have a broad range of personal interests, including recreational, commercial, aboriginal rights, and many more.
By far, the largest challenge given N.R.A.C. is to monitor and provide input to the forest management planning process. In Ontario, all major forest harvesting operations on Crown land are required to submit a detailed plan that outlines all the work being proposed.
In our area, Abitibi-Consolidated holds a Sustainable Forest Licence granted by MNR that allows them to carry out harvest operations locally.
The area Abitibi harvests is known as the Crossroute Forest, which stretches roughly from Fort Frances to Quetico Park and north from the U.S. border to about halfway to Dryden.
It contains 821,992 hectares of productive forest.
The current management plan covers the detailed harvesting plans until the spring of 2007. The next management plan will cover from 2007-2017.
The planning procedure is a lengthy and complicated process. The public is invited to participate in the process and is encouraged to provide input.
Open houses will be made available during various stages of the plan formation.
Any interested persons are encouraged to attend and preview options being considered. They are given a chance to provide valuable input and have a say in the future of the forest.
The public’s interest is being represented throughout the planning process by the MNR. The open houses are one way to help the planners understand and keep in touch with wants and needs of the many other forest user groups.
The first open house probably will take place in early September.
An informational brochure explaining more about N.R.A.C., and how to contact any of its members, can be obtained at MNR offices in Fort Frances and Atikokan, or any municipal office in the area.
N.R.A.C. members include Andrew Moulton (chairman), Eric Rude (vice-chair), Shawn O’Donnell, Lawrence Eustace, Alan Lowe, Al Holt, John Amundsen, Don Dickson, Dale Kaemingh, Charlie Morken, Henriette Verhoef, and Dawn Helseth-Kroeker.