The Forest Renewal and the Forestry Futures Trusts were established with the passing of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act in 1994. Both Trusts are significant parts of the Ontario's forest management program.
Forest Renewal Trust
The purpose of the Forest Renewal Trust is to provide for long term, sustainable funding of eligible silviculture work carried out on Crown lands in the province where forest resources have been harvested. Companies who have entered into sustainable forest licenses with the government make payments into the Trust based on assessed forest renewal charges. Each cubic metre of wood harvested in the province is subject to this renewal charge.
When it is time to regenerate the forest that has been harvested, the sustainable forest licence holder (SFL) carries out the necessary renewal work and then submits invoices to the Forest Renewal Trust to be reimbursed for this renewal work. Examples of the forest renewal activities that are funded by this Trust are:
- Seed collection and processing
- seedling production and planting
- site preparation and tending
- free-to-grow surveys and;
- modified harvesting that promotes natural renewal
A Forest Renewal Trust Advisory Committee meets regularly to provide the Minister advice with respect to administration and the operation of the Trust.
Forestry Futures Trust
The purpose of the Forestry Futures Trust is identified in the Crown Forest Sustainability Act as follows:
- The funding of silvicultural expenses in Crown forests where forest resources have been killed or damaged by fire or natural causes.
- The funding of silvicultural expenses on land that is subject to a forest resource licence, if the licensee becomes insolvent.
- The funding of intensive stand management and pest control in respect of forest resources in Crown forests.
- The funding of the independent forest audit.
- Such other purposes as may be specified by the Minister
- The independent forest audit
- The Enhanced Forest Resource Inventory program
- The Sustainable Forest Licence Conversion program
Essentially, this Trust serves as an insurance policy for the province, ensuring that forest renewal activities can be carried out in the event of natural depletions of the forest or when a major licensee becomes insolvent.
This Trust is administered by an "arm's-length" committee appointed by the Minister to oversee the appropriate use of funding from the Trust by issuing requests for proposals, setting funding priorities and ensuring that the renewal activities are being carried out appropriately.
The Forestry Futures Trust Committee has the authority to issue calls for proposals for and to approve projects to be funded under this trust.
