Northumberland County Forest Management Plan

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Consultation has concluded

Northumberland County has developed a Northumberland County Forest Mangement Plan to guide the sustainable management of the County Forest over the next twenty years.

About the Northumberland County Forest

The Northumberland County Forest includes 2,225 hectares (5,500 acres) of mainly forested land, including 118 km of recreational trails and many unique species and habitats including the rare Black Oak Woodland.

Project background

The planning process for the Plan began in 2018 with discussions between County staff and members of the Forest Advisory Committee. Discussions with the committee continued throughout meetings in 2018, 2019 and 2020. In 2018 and 2019, Northumberland County Forest staff researched and reviewed best practices in forestry planning from various municipalities, including maintaining both natural habitats and recreational assets.

In 2019, Northumberland County launched public consultations to gather information, ideas and feedback from residents and forest users, including an online survey in June 2019 and public open houses in October 2019. The feedback and input gathered during these consultations provided key insight that was incorporated into the development of the draft plan.

The first draft plan of the plan was made available for review and feedback in November 2020. Feedback from this review period was incorporated into the final draft of the plan, which was available for review and feedback in November 2021.

The finalized Forest Management Plan 2021-2041 was adopted by Northumberland County Council on March 16, 2022.

Our vision and goals

Our vision for the Forest Management Plan is to develop high-level strategies and long-term goals that will strengthen recreation opportunities for the community while ensuring a strong natural and cultural heritage conservation over the next 20 years and beyond.

This plan focuses on four goals:

  1. A community that is engaged, has pride in and celebrates the Northumberland County Forest for its many values
  2. Natural heritage conservation that preserves, enhances, and restores lands for the best possible ecological health and integrity
  3. A model recreational trail system that provides high-quality and safe experiences for a variety of user types
  4. An exemplary silviculture program that supports conservation goals and provides social benefits

Please note the final plan is available in an alternative format upon request to accessibility@northumberland.ca or 905-372-3329 ext. 2327.

Northumberland County has developed a Northumberland County Forest Mangement Plan to guide the sustainable management of the County Forest over the next twenty years.

About the Northumberland County Forest

The Northumberland County Forest includes 2,225 hectares (5,500 acres) of mainly forested land, including 118 km of recreational trails and many unique species and habitats including the rare Black Oak Woodland.

Project background

The planning process for the Plan began in 2018 with discussions between County staff and members of the Forest Advisory Committee. Discussions with the committee continued throughout meetings in 2018, 2019 and 2020. In 2018 and 2019, Northumberland County Forest staff researched and reviewed best practices in forestry planning from various municipalities, including maintaining both natural habitats and recreational assets.

In 2019, Northumberland County launched public consultations to gather information, ideas and feedback from residents and forest users, including an online survey in June 2019 and public open houses in October 2019. The feedback and input gathered during these consultations provided key insight that was incorporated into the development of the draft plan.

The first draft plan of the plan was made available for review and feedback in November 2020. Feedback from this review period was incorporated into the final draft of the plan, which was available for review and feedback in November 2021.

The finalized Forest Management Plan 2021-2041 was adopted by Northumberland County Council on March 16, 2022.

Our vision and goals

Our vision for the Forest Management Plan is to develop high-level strategies and long-term goals that will strengthen recreation opportunities for the community while ensuring a strong natural and cultural heritage conservation over the next 20 years and beyond.

This plan focuses on four goals:

  1. A community that is engaged, has pride in and celebrates the Northumberland County Forest for its many values
  2. Natural heritage conservation that preserves, enhances, and restores lands for the best possible ecological health and integrity
  3. A model recreational trail system that provides high-quality and safe experiences for a variety of user types
  4. An exemplary silviculture program that supports conservation goals and provides social benefits

Please note the final plan is available in an alternative format upon request to accessibility@northumberland.ca or 905-372-3329 ext. 2327.

Consultation has concluded

  • Goal 1: A community that is engaged, has pride in and celebrates the Northumberland County Forest for its many values.

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    Actions

    • Prepare a cultural heritage and values document in coordination with Alderville First Nation and other interested Williams Treaty, Clause 2 signatories. This, as a whole or a portion, will be inserted either into the Indigenous Communities section and if only a portion, then the remainder will be inserted as an appendix.
      Completion date: 2025
    • Evaluation and strategy for First Nation community participation in forest management developed in cooperation with Alderville First Nation. The first aspect of this project will be to perform an evaluation of the desire and scope of the project. This, as a whole or a portion, will be inserted either into the Indigenous Communities section and if only a portion, then the remainder will be inserted as an appendix.
      Completion date: 2030
    • Develop a continuous community consultation program. Once developed this will be inserted into the Community Engagement Section.
      Completion date: 2023
    • Develop a five-year volunteer plan while holding volunteer events in the interim.
      Completion date: 2024
    • Develop a two-year outreach and education strategy. This will be followed by the development of a 5-year outreach and education strategy (2026-2030) that will coordinate with the other operational plans.
      Completion date: 2023

  • Goal 2: Natural heritage conservation that preserves, enhances, and restores lands for the best possible ecological health and integrity.

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    Actions

    • Prepare a terrestrial habitat data collection protocol.
      Completion: 2022
    • Prepare a wildlife and target species inventory and monitoring protocol.
      Completion: 2023
    • Perform a wildlife habitat modelling exercise.
      Completion: 2024
    • Prepare recurring 5-year conservation operations plan.
      Completion date: 2025 (for 2026 plan)

  • Goal 3: A model recreational trail system that provides high-quality and safe experiences for its many users.

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    Actions

    • Review forest use by-laws and set fines.
      Completion date: 2022 (Additional reviews should occur, at a minimum, every five years)
    • Prepare a review and summary for options for off-leash dog use.
      Completion date: 2024
    • Prepare 5-year recreational operations plan and 20-year access road maintenance outlook.
      Completion date: 2025

  • Goal 4. An exemplary silviculture program that supports conservation goals and provides social benefits

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    Actions

    • Annually consider/review opportunities for non-conifer harvest operations.
      Completion date: Annually
    • Prepare a timber sale analysis and plan.
      Completion date: 2025
    • Prepare recurring 5-year silvicultural operations plan.
      Completion date: 2025 (for 2026 plan)
    • Prepare an Annual Harvest Area assessment and plan.
      Completion date: 2024

  • Additional actions

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    These actions support more than one goal for Northumberland County Forest management and are therefore included as additional.

    • Revise compartment boundary delineation.
      Completion: 2022
    • Create database of recreational and access assets.
      Completion: 2024
    • Complete Desired Future Condition Assessment and Mapping.
      Completion: 2025
    • Develop a wildfire risk reduction and control management plan.
      Completion date: 2027
    • Develop a land securement and boundary demarcation strategy.
      Completion date: 2026
    • Inventory natural and built assets to contribute to the County Asset Management Plan.
      Completion date: 2023
    • Perform a financial reserves review.
      Completion date: 2023