State of the Forest Report 2006

The State of the Forest Report, 2006 (SOFR 2006) summarizes how Ontario’s forest is managed for ecological sustainability. This is Ontario’s second State of the Forest Report. The reporting period for the report is April 1999 to March 2004.

 

As in SOFR 2001, this report also describes long-term trends, which may originate from outside of the reporting period. In addition, where data and/or information is available and is more recent than the March 2004 reporting cut-off date, then it has been used to enhance trend analysis and to improve the utility of the report.

 

The report is based on a comprehensive and objective evaluation of sustainable forest management practices and results. A hierarchy (framework) of criterion, element, and indicators was used to conduct the evaluation. The aggregate performance in all aspects of forest sustainability was used, to develop an overall conclusion about the state of Ontario’s forests.

 

Table of Contents:

 

 

Chapter 1:
Introduction (PDF, 860KB 22 pages)

Summary of the State of the Forest Report:

SOFR 2006 is a lengthy document. This summary presents an overview of the content of the full report and includes the important conclusions.

View Summary (PDF, 2.8MB 32 pages)

  • Contains background information necessary for an understanding of the various influences on the practice of sustainable forest management in Ontario. 

Chapter 2:
Forest Resources of Ontario (PDF, 3.0MB 16 pages)

  • Contains a summary of related report called the Forest Resources of Ontario, which characterizes Ontario's geography, climate and forest.

Chapter 3:
Evaluating the State of the Forest (PDF, 678KB 10 pages)

  • Contains a discussion of sustainable forest management assessment and evaluation.

Chapter 4:
Indicators of Forest Sustainablity (PDF, 509KB 4 pages)

  • In the following sections of Chapter 4 outlined below, each of the seven criteria of forest sustainability is described, and an evaluation of the condition of individual indicators is presented.

Chapter 5:
Discussion (PDF, 832KB 20 pages)

  • Contains a discussion of the key findings from each criterion, focusing on areas where there are opportunities to continuously improve sustainable forest management in Ontario.

 

Chapter 4: Indicators of Forest Sustainability

 

Criterion 1 - Conserving Biological Diversity

 

Introduction and criterion flowchart (PDF, 509KB 4 pages)

 

Element - 1.1 Conserving Ecosystem Diversity (PDF, 428KB 1 page)

 

Element - 1.2 Conserving Species Diversity (PDF, 424KB 1 page)


Element 1.3 - Conserving Genetic Diversity (PDF, 361KB 1page)

 

Criterion 1 Insets

 

- Old Growth Policy and Definitions (PDF, 670KB 2 pages)
- Natural Heritage Information Centre (PDF, 465KB 1 page)
- Pattern of Harvest Areas (PDF, 463KB 2 pages)
- Learning from Others: Landscape Corridors Provide Pathways for Seed Dispersal (PDF, 555KB 2 pages)
- Conserving Canada’s South (PDF, 414KB 2 pages)
- New Technology for Closing the Protected Ecosystems Gap (PDF, 470KB 1page)
- More Insight into Biodiversity (PDF, 562KB 1 page)
- Trumpeter Swans (PDF, 711KB 1 page)
- Partnership with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (PDF, 318KB 1 page)
- Invasive Species Harms Native Hardwoods by Killing Soil Fungus (PDF, 578KB 2 pages)
- Seed Where? (PDF, 457KB 1 page)

 

Criterion 2 - Monitoring and Maintaining Forest Productivity and Resilience

 

Introduction and criterion flowchart (PDF, 593KB 1 page)

 

Element 2.1 - Monitoring and Modeling Forest Productivity (PDF, 449KB 1 page)


Element 2.2 - Monitoring and Managing Incidences of Forest Disturbance (PDF, 429KB 1 page)

 

Element 2.3 - Maintaining and Conserving Forest Ecosystem Resilience (PDF, 435KB 2 pages)


Criterion 2 Insets

 

- Prescribed Fire in Quetico Provincial Park (PDF, 527KB 2 pages)
- An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada (PDF, 571KB 1 page)
- Public Cooperation a Keystone in the Fight Against Invasive Species (PDF, 748KB 2 pages)
- Sirex Woodwasp (PDF, 320KB 1 page)
- Forest Vegetation Management (PDF, 459KB 1 page)
- Tree Planting in Ontario (PDF, 460KB 2 pages)
- Research and Technology Development (PDF, 631KB 4 pages)
- Structural Legacy Following Harvest (PDF, 1.0MB 4 pages)

 

Criterion 3 - Protecting and Conserving Ontario's Forest Soil and Water Resources


Introduction and criterion flowchart (PDF, 401KB 1 page)

 

Element 3.1 - Minimizing Effects of Forest Management Practices on Forest Soil Resources (PDF, 421KB 1 page)

 

Element 3.2 - Minimizing Effects of Forest Management Practices on Water Resources (PDF,  418KB 2 pages)


Criterion 3 Insets

 

- Minimizing the Environmental Impact of Forest Roads and Water Crossings on Water Resources (PDF, 1.2MB 2 pages)

 

Criterion 4 - Monitoring Forest Contributions to Global Ecological Cycles

 

Introduction and flowchart (PDF, 437KB 2 pages)

 

Element 4.1 - Managing Ontario's Forest Sector Contributions to Global Carbon Enrichment(PDF, 499KB 1 page)

 

Element 4.2 - Managing Conversion of Forest Land to Other Uses (PDF, 490KB 1 page)

 

Element 4.3 - Monitoring Nutrient Cycles in Ontario's Forests (PDF, 474KB 1 page)

 

Element 4.4 - Monitoring the Water Balance in Ontario's Forests (PDF, 478KB 1 page)

 

Criterion 4 Insets

 

- Carbon Assessment in Boreal Wetlands (PDF, 718KB 1 page)
- Biomass Innovation Network (PDF, 468KB 1 page)
- Forest Bio-Products (PDF, 548KB 2 pages)
- Managing Conversion of Forest Land to Other Uses in Ontario (PDF, 792KB 1 page)
- The Greenbelt Act (PDF, 322KB 1 page)
- The RHYSys Model (PDF, 320KB 1 page)


Criterion 5 - Providing for a Continuous and Predictable Flow of Economic and Social Benefits from Ontario's Forests


Introduction and flowchart (PDF, 438KB 2 pages)

 

Element 5.1 - Maintaining or Enhancing the Resource Productive Capability of Ontario's Forests (PDF, 484KB 1 page)

 

Element 5.2 - Monitoring and Supporting Forest Sector Employment, Investment, and Competitiveness (PDF, 488KB 1 page)

 

Element 5.3 - Monitoring and Supporting Value-Added Products and Services (PDF, 496KB 1 page)

 

Element 5.4 - Maintaining or Enhancing Recreation, Tourism, and Other Social and Benefits from Ontario's Forests

 

Criterion 5 Insets

 

- Silvicultural Systems Used in Ontario (PDF, 461KB 2 pages)
- Recent Economic Factors Affecting the Forest Industry (PDF, 462KB 2 pages)
- Forest Industry Update (PDF, 462KB 2 pages)
- World Bank Supports Green Accounting (PDF, 570KB 1 page)
- A Study of the Economic and Social Benefits of the Nine Ontario Living Legacy Signature Sites (PDF, 319KB 2 pages)
- Parks are an Economic Driver (PDF, 307KB 1 page)

 

Criterion 6.0 - Accepting Social Responsibilities for Sustainable Development

 

Introduction and criterion flowchart (PDF, 423KB 2 pages)

 

Element 6.1 - Respecting Aboriginal Rights and Supporting Aboriginal Participation in Sustainable Forest Management Activities (PDF, 500KB 2 pages)

 

Element 6.2 - Forest Community Wellbeing and Resilience (PDF, 475KB 1 page)

 

Element 6.3 - Maintaining Fair and Effective Public Participation in Sustainable Forest Management Decision-making (PDF, 466KB 2 pages)

 

Criterion 6 Insets

 

- First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program (FNNRYEP) (PDF, 2.2MB 2 pages)
- Lake Superior First Nations Development Trust (PDF, 1.2MB 3 pages)
- Northern Boreal Initiative (PDF, 457KB 1 page)
- Forest-Dependent Communities (PDF, 527KB 3 pages)
- What is Public Involvement? (PDF, 836KB 1 page)
- Testing Interactive Visualization of Forest Management Planning Scenarios for Enhancing Public Participation (PDF, 307KB 1 page)

 

Criterion 7 - Maintaining and Enhancing Ontario's Framework for Sustainable Forest Management

 

Introduction and criterion flowchart (PDF, 441KB 2 pages)

 

Element 7.1 - Maintaining and Enhancing Ontario's Legal Framework for Sustainable Forest Management (PDF, 478KB 1page)

 

Element 7.2 - Maintaining and Enhancing Ontario's Institutional Framework for Sustainable Forest Management (PDF, 506KB 1 page)

 

Element 7.3 - Maintaining and Enhancing Ontario's Economic Framework for Sustainable Forest Management (PDF, 506KB 1 page)

 

Element 7.4 - Maintaining and Enhancing Ontario's Monitoring Framework (PDF, 484KB 2 pages)

 

Element 7.5 - Maintaining and Enhancing Ontario's Research and Development Framework for Sustainable Forest Management (PDF, 480KB 1 page)


Criterion 7 Insets

 

- Dryden High School Conservation Course (PDF, 497KB 1 page)
- Promoting Access to Ministry Data for Municipal Planning (PDF, 455KB 1 page)
- Public Involvement Best Practices (PDF, 596KB 2 pages)
- Environmental Bill of Rights - A Gateway for Public Participation (PDF, 457KB 1 page)
- Ontario’s Stumpage System (PDF, 458KB 2 pages)
- Socioeconomic Impacts of the Softwood Lumber Trade Dispute (PDF, 466KB 5 pages)
- Ontario Forestry Association (PDF, 309KB 2 pages)
- Forest Ecosystem Science Co-operative Inc. (PDF, 455KB 1 page)
- The Canadian Ecology Centre Forestry Research Partnership (PDF, 456KB 1 page)

 

Single copies of the Summary complete with a CD of the full report are available at no charge from the address below. Bulk orders may involve charges.

 

Ministry of Natural Resources
Natural Resources Information Centre
300 Water Street, Peterborough, ON K9J 8M5

 

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