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Ministry seeking input on harvest options

Feb 16, 2018 | 10:48 AM

The Ministry of Environment is seeking opinions on four harvest plans for the North-central Saskatchewan region.

Representatives from the province’s forest service branch outlined the plans in Choiceland recently at a public open house. The Canwood, Nisbet, Fort a la Corne, and Torch River provincial forests were included. The proposal includes the reforestation endeavours between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019.The province forecasts a five-year forest plan.

The Island Forests are unique in Saskatchewan, as there is no single large industrial entity responsible for forest management in the area, thus the Ministry of Environment take on this responsibility. In other areas, where a long-term forest management agreement is in place, the forest company develops long-term forest management and annual operating plans.

The forests are harvested to produce products including pulp, posts, and firewood. Plans to keep the forests renewed by tree planting were also laid out. The Island Forest operating plan proposes to harvest two “FireSmart” fuel breaks located near homes as requested by the home owners.

In 2015 a wildfire burned roughly 15 per cent of the Torch River Forest. The 4,500-hectare region saw jackpine budworm defoliation the last two years as well. Nicholson said fires are still the highest concern, so the ministry will continue to focus on reducing the risk level.

Wildfire continues to be the main disturbance in the Island Forests. One key objective of forest harvest plans is to reduce this risk by strategic placement of harvest blocks.

Over the last 30 years, 30 to 40 per cent of the Island Forests have had wildfires.

Another open house was held in Prince Albert Thursday night.

 

Clark.stork@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @ClarkStork