Photo: EverythingGP stock photo.

By Abby Zieverink

Alberta

Province renews joint FMA as part of long-term investment in northern Alberta forests

Feb 22, 2022 | 2:44 PM

The province announced Tuesday it has renewed a joint forest management agreement (FMA) with two companies in northern Alberta for the next 20 years.

The FMA has been renewed with West Fraser Mills Ltd. and Tolko Industries Ltd. and will allow both companies to maintain the right to establish grow, harvest and remove Crown timber from the forest management area, for the next 20 years, in exchange for various responsibilities.

These responsibilities include that both West Fraser and Tolko provide hundreds of well-paying jobs, sponsorships, donations and job training to residents in the High Prairie and Slave Lake region.

Over its lifespan, the province says the FMA will potentially contribute $3.2 million in holding and protection charge payments, $69.4 million in timber dues, $1.2 billion to Alberta’s GDP.

“This renewed forest management agreement gives West Fraser and Tolko the security they need to make long-term investments in our forests, our economy and our northern communities,” said Nate Horner, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development.

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“Secure access to wood fibre is a critical component of Alberta’s Recovery Plan and ensures our forestry sector remains competitive in a globalized economy.”

The government says both companies also have a strong track record of business relationships with Indigenous communities, including Metis Settlements.

“West Fraser understands the responsibility entrusted to us in managing public forest land and balancing the many values ranging from job creation to biodiversity that are important to the Indigenous Peoples and communities in the region,” expressed West Fraser Mills Ltd. and Canadian Woodlands Vice president D’Arcy Henderson.

“By following strong stewardship principles with a focus on long-term sustainable resource management, we look forward to renewing this and other agreements with the province of Alberta for years to come.”

West Fraser and Tolko’s current forest management plan is in place until 2031. The plan is based on sustainable forest management principles, practices and implementation.

In a release, the province says West Fraser operates a High Prairie sawmill in association with the FMA, which directly provides 150 good-paying jobs and indirectly provides another 450 jobs; Tolko operates a High Prairie oriented strand board (OSB) facility in association with the FMA, which directly employs 150 people and provides an additional 300 indirect jobs.