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History

The Canadian model forest concept began to take shape in the early 1990s amid a wave of national and international commitments to sustainable forest management (SFM).

The Earth Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, produced “Forest Principles,” a document with a plan to guide sustainable development in forest management around the world. At the same time, Canada’s National Forest Strategy and the Canada Forest Accord were also launched with the concept of sustainable forest management (SFM) as the backbone. In 1991, after a call for proposals, more than 50 applications were submitted to the National Advisory Committee on Model Forests. Ten sites were chosen and in 1992, Canada’s Model Forest Program was established.

Phase I (1992-1997)
The major challenge in the beginning was to overcome historical differences in ideas and approaches to managing forest resources. Each model forest brought together local partners – private landowners, forest industry, environmental groups, all levels of government, academics, Aboriginal communities and local citizens – to offer their views, combine ideas and commit to work towards the common goal of sustainable forest management.

Phase 1 was characterized by ground-breaking work – developing local partnerships, solidifying working relationships and enhancing knowledge of local conditions. What emerged was a commitment from all partners to work together towards a common goal.

Phase II (1997-2002)
Phase II of Canada’s Model Forest Program focused on sharing Model Forest experiences, demonstrating innovations, developing local level indicators to monitor progress toward SFM and establishing an eleventh model forest managed by the Waswanipi Cree of northern Québec. The development of national-level Network initiatives also figured prominently during Phase II, and helped develop a stronger Network vision and alliances between Model Forests.

Other achievements during this phase included the establishment of the Nova Forest Alliance, a special project area in Nova Scotia, and stronger links between the Canadian Model Forest Network (CMFN) and the Canadian Forest Service.

Phase III (2002-2007)
Building upon the successes of Phase II, the CMFN adopted a new vision for Phase III. “Beyond the Boundaries” encouraged each Model Forest to contribute knowledge and tools that advance SFM in Canada, but also to go beyond their boundaries to expand their sphere of influence regionally, provincially and nationally.

At the Network level, new strategic initiatives were developed. In partnership with the Canadian Forest Service, a major project was initiated to create an operational-scale carbon budget model Increasing concerns about the impacts of climate change on forest-based communities led to the creation of the Climate Change Strategic Initiative. As well, the Private Woodlot Strategic Initiative was established to address stewardship challenges encountered by many private woodlot owners.

Three new special project areas were established in partnership with existing Model Forests: the PEI Model Forest Network Partnership in Prince Edward Island with the Nova Forest Alliance, the Labrador/Nitassinan Ecosystem-based Forest Management Plan with the Western Newfoundland Model Forest and the Vancouver Island Non-Timber Forest Products Project with the McGregor Model Forest.

And the work continues. The Canadian Model Forest Network, which started with a grassroots approach, has matured into a sophisticated model of innovative concepts and practical solutions that work. With each Model Forest operating both as an individual entity and as a member of the Network, the CMFN is moving forward, exploring, experimenting and testing new concepts and ideas in sustainable forest management.

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