About the Forests Branch

The Ontario’s Forests website is maintained by the Policy Division's Forests Branch of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). The goal of the Forests Branch is to ensure the sustainable management and health of Ontario’s forests for the benefit of present and future generations.

What We Do

Forests Branch leads the development and provincial implementation of forest resource strategic direction, legislation, program policies, standards, guidelines and procedures, plus related forest management planning and decision support mechanisms. The branch coordinates MNR initiatives to evaluate forest management practices and reports to the public on the state of Ontario’s forests. 

The branch also ensures the continued enhancement of competency to enable sustainable forest management and leads ministry initiatives to involve clients and stakeholders in forest resource management decision making.

The expert support and advice provided by Forests Branch staff to forest users will ensure the wise use of Ontario's forests for generations to come and that our vision of sustainable forests is met.

The Forests Branch is comprised of four sections:

Forest Policy Section

Forest Evaluation and Standards Section

Forest Management Planning

Forest Health and Silviculture

The role of the Forest Policy Section is to lead and coordinate the development, implementation and improvement of forestry legislation, policies, and related management mechanisms; provide policy advice regarding national and international forest management trends, issues and programs; and develop and support forest management guides.

Forest Policy Unit

The Forest Policy Unit is responsible for leading and coordinating the development, implementation, and improvement of forest management legislation, policy and supporting mechanisms.  This includes providing advice and support for the forest program on national and international policy and program matters, working with the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers and providing secretariat support for two public advisory committees: the Provincial Forest Policy Committee and the Provincial Forest Technical Committee.  Unit staff provide forest policy advice and expertise to other natural resource policy and program initiatives.

Guides Unit

The Guides Unit is responsible for the development, delivery, and maintenance of the Ministry's forest management guides. This includes the legally-mandated periodic review of existing guides, their revision, and the subsequent transfer to and training of Ministry and forest industry staff. Unit staff also advise MNR science specialists on monitoring the effectiveness of the guides, as well as work closely with the Provincial Forest Technical Committee, a public advisory group that provides technical advice on all aspects of the forest management guides.

The Forest Evaluation and Standards Section leads the development of policy and programs related to forest information management, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on sustainable forest management. The section is also responsible for the development and implementation of forest management training, certification of forest operations compliance inspectors, the forester internship program and maintaining the forest program website. Key documents associated with the section include the Forest Information Manual, the Forest Compliance Handbook, the Provincial Annual Report on Forest Management, the State of the Forests Report, the Forest Resources of Ontario Report and Independent Forest Audit Reports.

Evaluation and Reporting Unit

The Evaluation and Reporting Unit leads the development of policy and programs related to monitoring, evaluating and reporting on sustainable forest management, including the Independent Forest Audit program of Ontario¿s Crown management units, the Provincial Annual Report on Forest Management, the Forest Resources of Ontario Report, and the State of the Forest Report.

Forestry Skills Assurance and Education Unit

The Forestry Skills Assurance and Education Unit ensures that professional and technical skills development is delivered and public education and awareness is undertaken to support the sustainable management of Ontario's forests. The unit is responsible for the development and delivery of forest management training, the certification of forest operations compliance inspectors, the forester internship program and maintaining the forest program website.

The Forest Management Planning Section provides expertise and leadership in forest management planning as well as stewardship of that process by; ensuring environmental assessment approval coverage for forest management on Crown lands in Ontario is maintained; ensuring a forest management planning process is in place and implemented in accordance with the environmental assessment approval requirements; providing modelling and analysis support for policy development and planning. The section has a Forest Analysis and Modelling Unit and a Forest Management Planning Unit.

Forest Analysis and Modelling Unit

The Forest Analysis and Modelling Unit provides analytical support for policy development and forest management planning.  The unit provides modelling and analysis expertise to support policy development and assessment.  The unit is also responsible for the maintenance and development of the analytical methodologies used in forest management planning and reporting.

Forest Management Planning Unit

The Forest Management Planning Unit provides expertise and leadership in forest management planning by: developing, maintaining and supporting a world recognized forest management planning system that will meet the requirements of the EA approval coverage and Crown Forest Sustainability Act requirements;developing and delivering training to MNR and forest industry staff as well as other partners involved in forest management planning; providing advice to planning teams developing forest management plans; and designating forest management units.

The Forest Health and Silviculture Section provides scientific leadership, expertise, as well as, policy, program development and direction. Program direction encompasses developing and maintaining provincial-level standards, policies, direction and guidance for the forest health and silviculture program areas. More specifically, the section deals with insect and disease management, forest health monitoring (including invasive forest pests), assessment and reporting on forest health and silviculture status, and the management and administration of the province's two forestry trusts. The section also provides expertise in the areas of gene conservation and tree improvement; renewal and maintenance, harvesting practices and vegetation management.

Forest Health Unit

The Forest Health Unit is responsible for developing scientifically sound and effective forest health policies, the design of supporting programs, and providing guidance to implementation of operational programs and practices. The Unit is responsible for interpreting the best available science in guiding forest management activities related to forest insects, diseases, vegetation management and abiotic disturbances (e.g. windthrow). The program reports annually on provincial status of forest insects and disease, vegetation management, invasive pests, abiotic disturbances and emerging threats.

MNR is responsible for ensuring that the public has a role in decisions affecting the management of Ontario’s Crown forest and resources in Ontario. 

Effective public participation in forest management helps to ensure that the diversity of ecological, economic, and social views related to forests are considered by decision-makers. Find out how you can get involved.