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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.
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:
A community that is engaged, has pride in and celebrates the Northumberland County Forest for its many values
Natural heritage conservation that preserves, enhances, and restores lands for the best possible ecological health and integrity
A model recreational trail system that provides high-quality and safe experiences for a variety of user types
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.
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:
A community that is engaged, has pride in and celebrates the Northumberland County Forest for its many values
Natural heritage conservation that preserves, enhances, and restores lands for the best possible ecological health and integrity
A model recreational trail system that provides high-quality and safe experiences for a variety of user types
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.
Share Goal 1: A community that is engaged, has pride in and celebrates the Northumberland
County Forest for its many values. on FacebookShare Goal 1: A community that is engaged, has pride in and celebrates the Northumberland
County Forest for its many values. on TwitterShare Goal 1: A community that is engaged, has pride in and celebrates the Northumberland
County Forest for its many values. on LinkedinEmail Goal 1: A community that is engaged, has pride in and celebrates the Northumberland
County Forest for its many values. link
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
Share Goal 2: Natural heritage conservation that preserves, enhances, and restores lands for
the best possible ecological health and integrity. on FacebookShare Goal 2: Natural heritage conservation that preserves, enhances, and restores lands for
the best possible ecological health and integrity. on TwitterShare Goal 2: Natural heritage conservation that preserves, enhances, and restores lands for
the best possible ecological health and integrity. on LinkedinEmail Goal 2: Natural heritage conservation that preserves, enhances, and restores lands for
the best possible ecological health and integrity. link
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
Share Goal 3: A model recreational trail system that provides high-quality and safe experiences
for its many users. on FacebookShare Goal 3: A model recreational trail system that provides high-quality and safe experiences
for its many users. on TwitterShare Goal 3: A model recreational trail system that provides high-quality and safe experiences
for its many users. on LinkedinEmail Goal 3: A model recreational trail system that provides high-quality and safe experiences
for its many users. link
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
Share Goal 4. An exemplary silviculture program that supports conservation goals and provides
social benefits on FacebookShare Goal 4. An exemplary silviculture program that supports conservation goals and provides
social benefits on TwitterShare Goal 4. An exemplary silviculture program that supports conservation goals and provides
social benefits on LinkedinEmail Goal 4. An exemplary silviculture program that supports conservation goals and provides
social benefits link
Actions
Annually consider/review opportunities for non-conifer harvest operations. Completion date: Annually
Prepare a timber sale analysis and plan. Completion date: 2025
Northumberland County Forest Management Plan has finished this stage
Northumberland County conducted consultations with the Northumberland County Forest Advisory Committee in late 2018 and continued discussions into 2020.
Public Consultation
Northumberland County Forest Management Plan has finished this stage
Northumberland County conducted a public survey in June 2019 and public open houses in October 2019 to gather information, ideas and feedback from residents and forest users.
Draft Forest Master Plan
Northumberland County Forest Management Plan has finished this stage
After reviewing best practices in forestry planning from other municipalities, Northumberland County Forest staff used the information gathered during consultations with the public and the Forest Advisory Committee to draft a Management Plan for the Northumberland County Forest throughout 2020-2021.
Public Review of First Draft
Northumberland County Forest Management Plan has finished this stage
Residents were invited to review the first draft of the plan during a three-week review period in fall 2020. This feedback was considered during the development of the final draft plan.
Public Review of Final Draft
Northumberland County Forest Management Plan has finished this stage
Residents are invited to review the final draft plan during a six-week review period from October 7 - November 19, 2021 and provide feedback. Presentations about the plan to be delivered to local municipal partners and stakeholders in fall/winter 2021/2022.
Final report
Northumberland County Forest Management Plan is currently at this stage
The final plan will be presented to Northumberland County Council for approval in 2022 and made available to the public.
