Fundy Model Forest: International Development Research Centre

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ID: 99593

Added: 2006-06-27 14:29

Modified: 2006-06-27 14:52

Refreshed: 2007-03-23 08:19

Fundy Model Forest

Document(s) 3 of 8

Country: Canada

Location: Southeastern New Brunswick

Area: 420 000 hectares

Regional affiliation: Canadian Model Forest Network (est. 1992)

Contact information

Name: Nairn Hay

Address: 701 Main St., Sussex, NB E4E 7H7

Phone: 506-432-7575

Email: nairn@fundymodelforest.net

Website: www.fundymodelforest.net

Forest and resource profile

Fundy Model Forest (FMF) is located in the Acadian forest region of Canada, a transition zone from mostly hardwood to mostly conifer. Fundy Model Forest contains 30 different species of trees, 45 species of mammals and 110 species of birds. The population is approximately 45,000.

The FMF landscape is a mixture of forests and farms, many of which are located along the Kennebecasis River or smaller rivers and streams. It also touches on the Bay of Fundy coast. Around Sussex the topography is rolling hills, which become much steeper near the coast.

Land composition:

Private Woodlots 63%
Industrial freehold 17%
Crown land (Fundy license) 15%
Protected areas 5% (Fundy National Park covers most of the total protected area)

Economic profile

The largest areas of employment by industry are retail 13%, manufacturing 11% (this includes food processing, sawmills and other wood product industries), health and social services 10%, construction 8% and all other 58%.

Why a model forest?

The FMF is a mix of industrial, provincial, federal and private ownership, creating a complicated sociological structure. At the same time, a landscape of mixed forests and topography where the hardwood forests of the south meet the conifer forests of the north is the setting for an ecologically complex mosaic.

The challenge was, and is, to meaningfully engage landowners and managers. The most effective tool to "marry" the sociological with the ecological was through the model forest process. The FMF brought together stakeholders, allowed them to articulate issues, build consensus and move onto solutions with a common goal of responsible forest resource management. Many of the solutions have used landscape-level planning tools to build sustainable solutions and in the process sustainable communities.

Partners

Federal, provincial and municipal governments 25.6%
Academia 12.8%
Indigenous people (First Nations) 5 %
Wildlife organizations 10.2%
Industry and/or woodlot and industry/woodlot related 15.3 %
Environmental NGOs 10.2 %
Other educational partners 7.6 %
National Park 2.5 %
Others 7.6 %

Strategic goals

To develop knowledge and understanding of ecosystem integrity and impacts
To build a cooperative approach to research and monitoring, planning and coordination, evaluation, reporting and to establish a strong scientific network and capability
To develop, assess, demonstrate and transfer technology, tools, methods and processes for sustainable forest and ecosystem-based management
To provide information, education, training, networking and professional development for forest managers (special emphasis on reaching woodlot owners)
To collect and report sustainable forest management and ecosystem information (e.g. Criteria &Indicators), to provide and manage information database for shared use and distribution
To provide a forum for discussion of forest management across boundaries and interests, contributing to the sustainable forest management planning process
To increase public awareness

Document(s) 3 of 8