Forest values focus of 2015 PAC field tour
Each year, Millar Western hosts a field tour for its Public Advisory Committee (PAC), to provide members with a first-hand look at management practices in a working forest. The focus of the 2015 event, held on September 29, was the 2017-27 Detailed Forest Management Plan (DFMP), which is currently in development. In an earlier exercise, PAC members had identified a number of forest values that they thought were important and should be considered in the next DFMP. The objective of the tour was to show how these values, which included biodiversity, aesthetics, recreation and integrated land management, are currently being addressed.
Among the stops during the day-long outing was a recent culvert replacement, where Planning Superintendent Ken Anderson explained the company’s overall infrastructure management program, which involves regular culvert replacement to protect water quality and fish habitat. The location also provided the opportunity to talk about how Millar Western works with other industries, such as oil & gas, to share roads, limit forest incursions and minimize habitat impacts. The next stop was at an eight-year-old stand, to discuss reforestation as well as forest certification.
Following lunch at a cabin belonging to the Whitecourt Trailblazers, a local snowmobile club, Millar Western and club representative Alex Manweiller discussed how they work together to manage the snowmobile trail system, both for access and aesthetics. Chief Forester Bob Mason was on hand to explain how the company takes its cues from natural disturbances such as fire to manage for biodiversity. He also walked the group through the process of calculating the net landbase, helping members to understand that not all of Millar Western’s FMA area is available for commercial timber production.
The final stop was a thinned forest, where Ken explained how removing some trees from a stand reduces competition, enabling the remaining stock to grow into merchantable timber. The group also had the chance to discuss other issues such as mountain pine beetle and caribou, before calling it a day.
In summing up the tour, facilitator Wayne Thorp said the value of these excursions is in showing how written plans translate into action. In his words, “See, not tell.”
Millar Western established its multi-stakeholder PAC in 2007, as a commitment of its 2007-17 DFMP. In addition to advising on the development of forest management plans, PAC meets regularly to review the company’s environmental performance and discuss forest issues of importance to Millar Western and communities in its operating area.
