Old Growth Policy for Ontario's Crown Forests

The Old Growth Policy for Ontario's Crown Forests provides provincial directions for the identification and conservation of old growth conditions and values for major tree species. This policy directs how MNR will ensure that old growth conditions and values are present for conserving biological diversity at levels that maintain or restore ecological processes, while allowing for sustainable development now and in the future.

The policy directs that old growth conditions will be identified using the age-of-onset and duration periods defined in the report Old Growth Forest Definitions for Ontario. The old growth definition report has been prepared to complement and support the old growth policy and provides working definitions for identifying old growth. Policy developers, resource management planning teams, resource managers, specialists and practitioners should consult the old growth policy to ensure the appropriate use of the old growth definitions report.

The old growth policy includes a conservation strategy that describes how MNR will provide for the conservation of old growth across Ontario's forest landscapes (eco-regions). This strategy also describes how the old growth policy should fit with MNR policy directions and legal authority for natural heritage protection and forest management planning on Crown lands as well as a number of existing and recently regulated protected areas.

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Old Growth Policy for Ontario's Crown Forests (Version 1.0) (PDF, 1.5MB 34 pages)

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The contact within the Ministry of Natural Resources is:

Anne Harris

Forest Policy Section
Forest Management Branch
Ministry of Natural Resources

70 Foster Drive, Suite 400
Sault Ste Marie, ON
P6A 6V5

Telephone: (705) 945-6633
FAX: (705) 945-6667

Email: anne.harris@mnr.gov.on.ca