Energy, Mines, and Resources

Forestry

Planning Framework

Stage 1- Sustainable Forest Management Planning is a first and important step that sets out what issues and concerns, values and interests must be addressed as forest planning moves forward through subsequent stages to more integrated and detailed planning for forest resource development in the planning region. It represents a set of directions, based on a general consensus between governments and people within the planning region. That in turn will guide forest planners and managers with respect to how they should approach future resource development and subsequent planning. It establishes the public benchmarks against which forest planning and management in the planning region should be evaluated in the years to come.

Stage 2 – Integrated Landscape Planning include the identification of broad areas available or not available for forest development and strategies for reducing or eliminating significant negative effects on other resources and values. A Timber Supply Analysis (TSA) is done at this time. TSA inputs such as forest inventory, growth and yield data, regeneration, and other forest management assumptions and design criteria, typically form the primary technical information used in the analysis. This is followed by a determination of the Annual Allowable Cut (AAC) for the planning region.

Stage 3 – Harvest Development Planning designs the general harvest activities consistent with the outcomes of landscape planning (e.g. main road location, harvest block location).

Stage 4 – Site Planning that field checks and engineers harvest block boundaries, landings, volumes and exact road locations, consistent with the higher level plans.

STAGE OF PLANNING	CONTENTS	PREPARED BY
1. Strategic Forest Management Planning: Regional Application	Statement of social, economic, environmental and cultural community values and related strategic directions. General principles, goals and objectives for forest management in the planning region and strategic directions. Delineates landscape areas (or planning areas) in the planning region. Incorporates strategic directions from other plans affecting forest resources (e.g. wildlife management plans, etc.).	Forest management planning team in consultation with government agencies, the community and other affected public interests.
2. Integrated Landscape Planning: Watershed/ Planning Unit Application (50,000ha)	Comparative evaluations of resource and resource use assessments (e.g. fish and wildlife habitat, wildlife movement corridors, traditional camps, trapping, outfitting, agricultural, recreational and timber harvest areas, etc.). Detailed technical analysis of the resources and resource values within the planning region. Incorporation of other land and resource plans and guidelines (e.g. wildlife, habitat, special areas, agriculture, etc.). Zoning of landscape units includes potential areas for forest development planning areas. Consistent with Strategic Forest Management Plan. Creation of the Timber Supply Analysis Determination of the Annual Allowable Cut	Sometimes included in SFMP, without the TSA. Prepared by YG with input from Territorial and federal government resource managers, technicians and planners and contracted technical assistance. Consultation with Resource Councils, stakeholder groups and general public.
3. Harvest Development Planning: Sub-watershed/ Core- Zone Application (10,000ha)	Forest engineering to identify main access location and general harvest design. Mitigation within identified timber harvest areas consistent with criteria and principles of landscape and strategic planning. Location of proposed cutblocks with a harvest schedule and volumes. Location and class of roads with stream crossings. Strategies to address engineering development, riparian areas, wildlife areas, viewscapes, silviculture and protection issues and areas. Strategies to address cultural values, traditional users, trappers, outfitters and other resources users. Review and reporting criteria. Previous harvesting history. Consistent with Strategic Forest Management Plan and Integrated Landscape Plan.	Depending on the size and form of the permit or tenure: responsible federal, territorial agencies and/or permit or tenure holder in consultation with other forest users. Plan review by public and Resource Councils.
4. Site Planning: Harvest Area Application (50 to 500ha)	Identifies specific proposed harvesting and operational design and activities for the coming year (e.g. exact road/landing/ harvest area location, refined volume estimates, equipment, stream crossing methods). Description of project activities must be consistent with harvest development plan. Plan is used by regulators to set terms and conditions of individual permits and for compliance and enforcement purposes.	Operator or client in consultation with territorial forest managers and regulators. Plan monitoring and review by YG forest managers.