Forest Community Program (2007-2012)

National Perspective (NRCAN)
Canada's forest sector and forest-dependent communities are facing unprecedented challenges. The forest sector is dealing with issues such as rising energy costs, a strong Canadian dollar, new international competition and reduced timber supplies. Communities that depend on the forest sector are feeling the cumulative impact of these challenges. The new Forest Communities Program (FCP) will help these communities develop the tools, approaches and strategies that they need to respond to the new challenges facing Canada's forest sector.

The FCP will encourage innovation. The $25-million program will provide initial five-year funding to 11 forest-based community organizations across Canada to develop and share knowledge, tools and strategies to address transitional challenges and capitalize on emerging forest-based opportunities. Matched funding from other collaborating organizations is a requirement for FCP project funding under the program.

The FCP has four main objectives including:

• develop new forest-based economic opportunities through collaboration with industry and other community stakeholders;
• facilitate capacity-building and engagement of communities to meet sector transition issues;
• promote and share integrated, multi-sectoral approaches to forestland management; and
• share best practices and information tools with forest communities across Canada and internationally.

Provincial Perspective: MFNL

The forestry sector in Newfoundland & Labrador has been a major contributor to the provincial economy for many years.  The Province's forest products sector consists of the newsprint industry, the lumber industry, and a small number of value-added industries.  These industries utilize approximately 2.5 million m3 of timber, and provide more than 3500 person years of direct employment resulting in 10,000 or more direct and indirect part-time and full-time jobs.  These industries also produce newsprint and solid wood products valued at $600-$700 million. 

Over the past number of years, the provincial forestry sector had to deal with many issues such as rising energy costs, a strong Canadian dollar, new international competition, and reduced timber supplies.  Communities that depend on the sector are feeling the impact.  In 2005, Abitibi-Consolidated Company of Canada closed its Stephenville operation.

The creation of the Model Forest program in 1992 was a significant step, not only in Canada, but for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.  The Canadian Model Forest Network has 15 years of experience in the area of sustainable forest management.  The network have pioneered and applied truly unique methods using multi-stakeholder approaches to inclusive management.  For 15 years, the Western Newfoundland Model Forest has been the place where all forestry sector stakeholders have come together to deal with issues, collaborate with other resource managers, and find solutions to common issues in resource management.  The partnership is expanding to become a truly provincial network, and will continue to develop solutions at a community level, where sound forest practices and economic development will have the most impact.

The new Forest Communities Program (FCP) goes to the heart of where forest management needs collaboration and support.  Rural communities have traditionally lacked the capacity to participate fully in the Sustainable Forest Management initiatives due to an emphasis on industry needs, government processes, and applied research.  The FCP recognizes that sustainability of the forestry sector must focus on rural communities where residents interact directly with the forest resource.

The Model Forest of Newfoundland and Labrador has targeted five networks of communities in Newfoundland and Labrador to implement its FCP initiatives.  Three of the five LCN s are located on west coast of the province namely, White Bay South LCN, Humber Valley – Gros Morne Corridor LCN, and the Northern Peninsula LCN.