Operational and Administrative Policy

Operational and administrative policies direct ministry staff in their day-to-day work and can apply to MNR’s business partners involved in administering ministry programs. They support quality, consistency and accountability in the application of ministry programs and services.

Operational and administrative policies are stipulated in a broad range of policy instruments, including: manuals (some approved under regulation), directives, procedures, guidelines, technical standards and bulletins. Where consistency is essential, these policies outline precise requirements and procedures. If there is more room for discretion, the policies may provide recommended best practices.

Operational policy

MNR provides forest management related operational policy directions in the Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA) and its regulations; manuals approved under CFSA regulations; and, forest management guides. These requirements cover a variety of matters pertaining to the harvest, renewal and maintenance of Crown forests in management units and guide the actions of anyone operating in a Crown forest.

Manuals approved under Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA) regulations

The manuals approved under CFSA regulations establish how forest policies, programs and related activities are to be planned and delivered on the ground; guide various aspects of forest information and information management, forest management planning and operations on Crown forest lands; and, define the responsibility of government officials and business partners and basic fixed and managerial arrangements regarding forest management on Crown forest lands. They are updated on a regular basis to reflect changes in policy, legal requirements and business arrangements; and, improvements in science, information and/or techniques or technology.

Forest Management Planning Manual (FMPM, approved under Ontario Regulation 159/04) and Addendum (approved under Ontario Regulation 185/07)

The Forest Management Planning Manual and Addendum dated February 2007 provide direction for all aspects of forest management planning for management units designated under the CFSA in the Area of the Undertaking. The Area of the Undertaking is defined in the MNR Class Environmental Assessment for Timber Management on Crown Lands in Ontario; the predecessor of Declaration Order MNR-71. It also provides direction for annual operations, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of forest management operations.

Forest Information Manual (FIM, approved under Ontario Regulation 184/07)

The Forest Information Manual identifies the requirements for the provision of information about forest management planning on Crown lands in Ontario between the MNR and Ontario’s forest industry.

Scaling Manual (approved under Ontario Regulation 183/07)

The Scaling Manual provides standard instructions for determining the quantity, quality and movement of Crown timber harvested in Ontario, as authorized under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act; and, defines standards for the training, licensing and approval of scalers and scaling auditors in the province.

Forest Operations and Silviculture Manual (FOSM, amended under Ontario Regulation 283/00)

The Forest Operations and Silviculture Manual is a compendium of guidance and direction for the conduct of operations authorized by approved forest management plans. It provides for the qualifications for persons engaged in forest operations as well as measures for assessing the performance of forest operations. FOSM also describes the forest management guides that are required for forest management planning and implementation activities.

Forest management guides

Forest management guides provide direction on acceptable forest management practices. The information provided includes standards, guidelines and best management practices. Since the 1980s, over 30 guides have been developed covering landscape patterns, silviculture, fish and wildlife habitat needs, construction of roads and water crossings, cultural heritage values and resource-based tourism values.

At the moment, a major revision is underway to consolidate the existing set of over 30 guides into a suite of five guides: 

For more information about the consolidation project see Ontario's Forest Management Guides: An Introduction and, the Status Summary of the MNR Forest Management Guide Review and Consolidation Project.

Administrative policy

Order-in-Councils

Order-in-Council 993/95

Order-in-Council 993/95 issued under CFSA Section 24, describes the process whereby the Minister of Natural Resources can make forest resources available without a competitive process, providing that at least one of the conditions outlined in the document are met. See supply agreements under documents required under the Crown Forest Sustainability Act.

Directives, procedures and bulletins

MNR provides forest management related administrative policy directions in the form of directives, procedures and bulletins in the following compendiums.

Forest Compliance Handbook

The Forest Compliance Handbook is a compendium of forest compliance administrative directives, procedures and related information developed to assist MNR staff at the field operations level in applying forest compliance monitoring and reporting requirements and related consideration to forest operations. 

Forest Management Directives and Procedures

The Forest Management Directives and Procedures is an evolving compendium of directives and procedures pertaining to matters such as forest information and information management, forest management planning, forest disposition processes, forest licensing, wood allocation and measurement, forest health and silviculture, forest compliance and enforcement, non-Crown forest stewardship, etc. This compendium is under development.

In 2009, all forest management directives and procedures will be available on this website in one compendium.