The Government of Alberta has renewed the forest management agreement (FMA) jointly held by Tolko Industries Ltd., Norbord Inc. and La Crete Sawmills Ltd. for the next 20 years in exchange for important stewardship responsibilities. This agreement establishes the companies’ right to grow and harvest Crown timber from a forest management unit in the northwestern corner of the province, surrounding High Level.
Over its lifespan, this FMA is expected to maintain more than 1,700 full-time, contract and seasonal positions and will potentially contribute:
- $48.7 million in holding and protection charge payments
- $433 million in timber dues payments
- $6.1 billion to Alberta’s gross domestic product
An FMA is the most secure type of forest tenure, providing companies with rights to establish, grow and harvest timber on Crown land consistent with sustainable forest management principles and practices. FMAs also establish numerous legal obligations for companies, including developing forest management plans that help protect biodiversity, increase forest resilience and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and insect and disease outbreaks, like mountain pine beetle.
Approval of this joint FMA supports the Forest Jobs Action Plan initiative to provide forest companies with long-term fibre access, ensuring that Alberta’s forests continue to provide ecological, economic, social and cultural benefits for future generations.
