Chapter 43 - Prince Albert Forest Management Agreement (FMA), Saskatchewan, Canada

Abstract

The Prince Albert Forest Management Agreement (FMA) covers 3.35 million hectares (about 8.28 million acres) of boreal forest and lakes in north-central Saskatchewan, Canada. The area is provincial government (Crown) land that has had long-term forest management rights assigned to Sakâw Askiy Management Inc. (Sakâw) with the preparation and approval of a 20-Year Forest Management Plan. Sakâw is a unique partnership of six forest companies with Saskatchewan operations and two local First Nations. The FMA area is primarily composed of pure and mixed stands of aspen, black spruce, white spruce, and jack pine on typically gentle terrain. Stands are intermixed with significant water features (lakes, muskeg, wetlands). Forest management in the FMA is focused on commercial timber harvesting while maintaining natural landscape patterns, protecting water features, and maintaining suitable habitat for wildlife species. In particular, boreal woodland caribou are found in the FMA and are of special concern because of their listing as threatened under the Canadian federal government's Species At Risk Act. The currently active forest management plan was developed in 1999, and a new plan is underway and nearing completion (expected in 2015). This chapter briefly describes the current process, the issues addressed in the plan, and some of the outcomes and practices that are recognized in the plan. In addition, the challenges and opportunities associated with the implementation of the plan are also addressed.