Forestry and resource-based tourism documents:
Tourism Needs in Forest Management
More Information
The resource-based tourism industry is an important component of Ontario’s forest-based economy. Ensuring that the needs of the resource-based tourism industry are effectively addressed is a key part of a forest management plan.
Ontario’s Tourism and Forestry Industry Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the Management Guidelines for Forestry and Resource-based Tourism provide direction and advice in the development of forest management plans. The MOU and the Guidelines were developed with the active involvement of forest managers, the resource-based tourism industry, and the Ontario government.
The Ministry of Natural Resources supports the use of the MOU and the resulting Resource Stewardship Agreements (RSA) to establish strong working relationships between forest managers and the resource-based tourism industry. The use of RSA’s is a relatively new approach that began with 2003 forest management plans.
About Resource Stewardship Agreements (RSAs)
An RSA is an agreement between the forest industry and a tourist outfitter that sets out planned harvest prescriptions and other measures agreed to for forestry operations in that part of the forest used by the two industries. The agreement addresses the measures necessary to allow the two industries to pursue their business interests.
Those parts of an RSA that deal with forest management planning are submitted to a forest management planning team as a proposal. The proposal is reviewed by the team and the public. This review may result in a request to amend the proposal. Relevant parts of the RSA are approved as part of the forest management planning process after they 
are acceptable to the forest management planning team. If Resource Stewardship Agreement (RSA) negotiations do not result in a signed agreement, the parties can choose to use an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process with the support of a mediator or arbitrator.
Parties seeking a mediator or arbitrator should establish that the qualifications of the arbitrator or mediator are sufficient to get the job done. A mediator/arbitrator should have general knowledge of resources management, experience as a mediator/arbitrator, and possess the ability to establish an effective working relationship with both parties.
Please note that anyone interested in obtaining additional information about the Ministry’s Resource Stewardship Agreement process may contact:
Stephen Harvey
Forest Management Branch
Ministry of Natural Resources
70 Foster Drive Suite 400
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
P6A 6V5
Telephone: (705) 945-6713
Fax: (705) 945-6667
