A model forest is a place where the best sustainable forest management practices are developed, tested and shared across the country. It is an ideal laboratory for conducting research on sustainable forest management.

Each model forest is run by a not-for-profit organization, and except for a small administrative staff, all those involved in the model forest not only donate their time and expertise, but usually bring additional financial support.

At the heart of each model forest is a group of partners who have different perspectives on the social, economic and environmental dynamics within their forest – perspectives that are necessary to make more informed and fair decisions about how to manage the forest. The real “model” in these forests is the way the different partners – forest companies, Aboriginal communities, maple syrup producers, woodlot owners, parks, environmentalists, universities, government agencies, recreational groups, community associations, hunters, trappers – have integrated their own interests into their common goal of developing approaches to sustainable forest management that do not sacrifice one interest for another.

Although the model forest organization itself does not have jurisdiction over the land it uses as a testing ground, those who do have jurisdiction are participants. By being involved from the outset in developing new, on-the-ground approaches and solutions to sustainable forest management, those with land management responsibilities are increasingly adopting many model forest innovations.

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