To the Forest
Planning for the future
Planting the future while intelligently harvesting today
As part of our commitment to sustainability, Chaleur Forest Products strives to plant for the future while harvesting intelligently today.
Harvesting is not about cutting down trees. Harvesting is all about building a long term sustainable forest that allows for maximum growth of the wood that the world needs, in the most efficient manner possible.
When a tree is cut, the responsibility of the lumber producer is to then achieve as close to 100% effective utilization as possible of all the riches the tree brings. Not just lumber, but ensuring that bark, chips and even sawdust get used efficiently and without becoming waste products.
Forest sustainability is all about ensuring that in our future we have as much, if not more, successful forestlands than we do today. This means building long term harvest plans, silviculture plans and species protection plans.
“Sustainable forestry is much more than just cutting down trees. It’s about knowing what to cut and when, and having the practices in place to replant to ensure that the forests of tomorrow will be at least as robust as today”
Sustainable Forestry is Chaleur Forest Products’ goal for Best Practice
Managed Crown Lands
We are a trusted partner with the Province of New Brunswick, given the responsibility to manage the incredible asset that is a portion of Crown Land, not solely for harvesting, but also for silviculture to ensure that the forest will still be there for our grandchildren.
Where wood is sourced from actively managed provincial Crown Licenses, the land is managed based on environmental, social and economic values; with the best scientific information available; in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the resources.
Forests are managed for wood supply, wildlife and old forest habitat and diversity; among other things. The management of Crown Licenses is directed by the Department of Natural Resources with input from the public.
Wood is also purchased through private forest products marketing boards, from other Crown Licenses, industrial freehold lands, or as a secondary forest product from other mills in order to provide both mills with a consistent supply of quality forest products.
Fibre Procurement Policy
Chaleur Forest Products is committed to achieving the Sustainable Forestry Initiative principles and objectives, and practicing sustainable forest management.
The following considerations will guide our purchasing.
We will:
We will encourage landowners to use the services of forest management and harvesting professionals in applying the principles of sustainable forest management on their lands
We will monitor forest lands that supply our facilities on the utilization of trained wood producers and Best Management Practices (BMPs) to promote the protection of water quality in order to foster continual improvement in sustainable forestry practices.
Sustainable Forestry Initiative® Policy
Chaleur Forest Products is committed to the use of sustainable forestry practices that are scientifically credible and economically, environmentally, and socially responsible.
Chaleur Forest Products implements programs, training and procedures to adhere to the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI) standards and promotes the SFI principles which include;
-
practicing sustainable forestry
-
employing responsible practices
-
regenerating the forest and maintaining productive capacity
-
protecting long-term forest health and soil productivity
-
protecting water resources, special sites and biological diversity
-
managing the visual impacts of activities
-
supporting forestry research and advancement
Chaleur Forest Products intends to broaden the practice of sustainable forestry through community involvement, socially responsible practices and through recognition and respect of Indigenous Peoples rights.
Chaleur Forest Products will comply with all applicable federal, provincial, and local laws and requirements including applicable social, environmental and forest management legislation.
Chaleur Forest Products will also implement a procurement program that promotes among other forest landowners a land stewardship ethic based on the SFI Principles.
Chaleur Forest Products will monitor, measure and review its SFI policy, procedures and programs to continually improve its performance in practicing
sustainable forestry.
Environmental Management System
Chaleur Forest Products is committed to meeting the needs of its customers and stakeholders through the integration of economic, social and ecological values into business activities that ensure responsible management of public and private forests under its stewardship.
The following values will guide our management activities.
We shall:
-
practice sustainable forest management
-
promote forest health and biodiversity
-
recognize and respect people’s rights and their multiple uses of the forest
-
comply with all applicable environmental legislative, regulatory and other requirements
-
ensure training of our forest workers in their environmental responsibilities
-
continually improve our practices to minimize pollution and environmental impact
NB Forestry Management Policy
The Company shall maintain a Sustainable Forest Management System, meeting Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) performance standards, of monitoring, reviewing, reporting and modifying forest management practices leading to continual improvement in sustainable forestry and making those finding publicly available.
The Company shall strive to meet or exceed the requirements of all applicable legislation, regulation and other goals and objectives specific to lands under management.
The Company shall ensure the sustainability of identified timber and non-timber values through development and maintenance of long term plans and the implementation of those plans which respect clear cut size, adjacency and green-up requirements, promotion and conservation of habitat and forest cover diversity.
The Company shall ensure the regeneration of all forest lands, under crown lease or ownership, through either natural means of planting or acceptable seedlings in accordance with approved forest management plans.
The Company shall ensure the protection of forests from damaging agents such as fire, pests, disease, and invasive exotic plants and animals through appropriate management techniques and judicious use of chemicals, to maintain and improve long-term forest health and productivity.
The Company shall encourage input from employees, contractors and the public in identifying sustainable forestry issues and address those concerns in a timely fashion.
The Company shall promote sustainable forestry awareness on forestry issues amongst employees, sub licensees, contractors and the general public through training and/or educational materials.
The Company shall promote and support the expansion of forest knowledge, through forestry research, science and technology, and apply this knowledge when economically, environmentally and socially beneficial and as viable.
The Company shall promote sustainable forestry practices among other forest landowners through its’ Fibre Sourcing Policy.
The Company shall identify, map and respect identified unique areas of historical, cultural, geological or ecological value.
The Company shall use and promote Best Management Practices (BMPs) in planning and implementation of all operations, in particular, with regards to protecting and maintaining soil productivity, the protection of riparian areas, maximizing wood utilization, consideration of recreational potential and improving the visual quality of forest operations.
The Company shall comply with social laws covering employment equality, anti-discrimination and anti-harassment (and International Labour Organization core conventions not covered by Canadian Law) while respecting indigenous peoples’ rights, ensuring workers a safe and healthy workplace and community’s access to information in a timely fashion.
NB Management Plan Process
The sustainable forest management planning process involves scheduling appropriate harvest and silvicultural regimes today in order to preserve values such as timber, wildlife habitat, water quality and biodiversity over the long term.
The basic forest management planning steps are:
An evaluation of harvest and silviculture activities is completed after each 5-year period. The AAC is revised to account for new science and changes in the forest inventory information.
The entire planning process is documented in a Forest Management Plan. The Plan must be approved by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) before harvest can occur on Crown land and is available to the general public. The plan for Freehold land must be available to DNR. In both cases, the plans must be available to our third party environmental certification auditors.