White Area

White Area Commercial Timber Permit Consultation

BACKGROUND

The Alberta provincial government, as an initiative of its Forest Jobs Action Plan, has awarded the White Area Commercial Timber Permit Partnership a commercial timber permit to harvest timber within two Forest Management Units (FMUs) – WO1 and WO2 – in unallocated portions of approved Annual Allowable Cut through an open and competitive process. The Forest Jobs Action Plan is aimed at supporting a sustainable, long-term supply of forest jobs and fiber access for Alberta’s forest industry while ensuring the long-term health and resilience of its forests.
The commercial timber permit allows the harvest of up to 500 hectares of public land over a five-year period, or no more than 100,000 m3/timber year, whichever is reached first. When compared to the total area that is eligible for harvest (100,000 ha), this will result in timber harvesting taking place on 2.4% of the landbase.

WHO WE ARE

Canfor, Millar Western, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Alexander First Nation, and the Nation owned businesses of Backwoods Energy Services and Alexander Contracting & Consulting have partnered as the White Area Commercial Timber Permit Partnership to carry out the White Area timber harvesting.

WHAT IS A COMMERCIAL TIMBER PERMIT?

Commercial Timber Permits (CTPs) are timber dispositions issued by the Alberta government, pursuant to section 22 of the Forests Act, and sections 37 to 41 of the Timber Management Regulation, authorizing the harvest of Crown timber. This CTP will allow for the responsible use of renewable forest resources in the White Area as a means of strengthening the long-term viability of partnering businesses and enhancing their significant economic contributions to the communities that rely on them.

WHAT IS THE WHITE AREA?

Alberta is divided into 2 areas:

• White (or settled) area, which comprises 42% of land base, consists of the populated central, southern and Peace River areas of Alberta, with 75% of the land privately owned and 25% publicly owned and managed for agriculture, recreation, and conservation. Forested public land in the White Area may also be managed for timber on a sustainable basis.
• Green (or forested) area, which comprises about 58% of land base, is managed for timber production, conservation, recreation, energy development and other uses, including grazing.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

• Permit Areas W01 and W02 are within the traditional lands of the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and Alexander First Nation. Both the Alexis Reserve and Alexander First Nation Reserve are located within W02.
• FMU WO1 and WO2 encompass Mayerthorpe, Barrhead, Onoway, NoJack, Wildwood, Evansburg, Spruce Grove and Stony Plain.
• Harvest design of the permit is consistent with the Alberta Forest Management Planning Standard and requirements of the approved permit.
• Backwoods Energy Services (Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation) and Alexander Contracting & Consulting (Alexander First Nation) will be conducting the harvesting, loading, hauling, and reclamation activities.
• All Timber Harvesting will be implemented consistent with the Canfor (Whitecourt) Operating Ground Rules, Canfor’s Woodlands Safety Program and Environmental Management System (EMS), and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Forest Certification Standards.
• All fibre will be delivered and manufactured at the Canfor Sawmill and Millar Western Pulp Mill in Whitecourt, Alberta.
• The permit includes an annual harvest of up to 500 hectares of timber and no more than 100,000 cubic metres of timber per year (coniferous and deciduous combined).
• The volume of timber harvested can be carried forward from one year to the next, however the total volume must be managed under the 2,500 hectare and 500,000 m3 total for the five-year permit period.
• The harvesting is planned to begin September of 2024.
• All harvested areas in the permit will be replanted within two years and young stands will be tended until established to ensure healthy forests are sustained.

PROJECT BENEFITS

• Active forest management helps improve forest health and reduces the forest’s susceptibility to wildfire, disease outbreaks and insect infestations, which are increasing in frequency and intensity with climate change.
• Old forests emit carbon as they decay, while young new forests store carbon as they grow, thereby helping to mitigate climate change impacts.
• By converting renewable resources into valuable forest products, jobs and economic prosperity for local communities will be created through related forest management activities.
• Responsible use of renewable forest resources will strengthen the long-term viability of the businesses involved and enhance their significant economic contributions to the communities that rely on them.
• Through an ecosystem-based approach to forest management, the Partnership will have the ability to manage for wildlife, watersheds and other values that are important to all Albertans.

HARVEST DESIGN AND PLAN

The White Area Harvest Plan (WAHP) is being designed within the Alberta Forest Management Planning Standard and requirements of the approved CTP. The WAHP considers forest health, site distance concerns, historical sites, and wildlife species of special management concern, as well as integration with other industrial and non-industrial users of the landbase. It includes maps highlighting proposed harvest locations, wildlife retention patches, proposed road/watercourse crossing location(s), watercourses and protection buffers, wildlife zones and sensitive wildlife site locations.

AQUATIC AND RIPARIAN AREA PROTECTION

Care will be given to minimize the impact on aquatic and riparian areas in the permit areas.

• All watercourses will be flagged and mapped for easy identification for equipment operators working in the area.
• Riparian buffers will be established based on the watercourse classification and operational restrictions and machine-free zones implemented accordingly.
• Roads will be planned to avoid or minimize watercourse crossings as much as possible and designed to prevent erosion and sedimentation during installation, operations and removal.
• At watercourse crossings we will:
  • Maintain stable approaches and minimize bank and channel disturbance
  • Ensure no direct drainage into a watercourse from either the road surface or ditches and always maintain surface and subsurface flow
  • Maintain fish habitat

WILDLIFE PROTECTION

Sensitive Wildlife Sites or Zones will be identified and protected, such as:

• Pileated Woodpecker
• Barred Owl
• Trumpeter Swans
• Black Bears or Grizzly Bear Dens
• Wolverine Dens
• Bat or Snake Hibernacula
• Mineral Licks
• Raptor Nests

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

On behalf of the White Area Commercial Timber Permit Partnership, Canfor invites stakeholders to provide input to the planning process. We welcome input on planned activities for block and road development, harvesting and reforestation, and ask that you highlight any site-specific concerns that could influence Project operations by July 2, 2025.

How to share feedback:

• Attend our public Open House: Tuesday, June 10th, 2025 from 4pm - 8pm at the MacKay Community Hall in MacKay, Alberta
• Attend our public Open House: Wednesday, June 11th, 2025 from 4pm - 7pm at the Goose Lake Community Hall in Goose Lake, Alberta
• Provide any feedback in the form below