CMFN AGM & Land Management Conference Highlights a New Direction

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The Canadian Model Forest Network (CMFN) held their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Prince George, British Columbia June 18^th-21^st. The event was held in collaboration with Resources North Association’s (RNA), a member of the CMFN, Cooperative Land Management Conference. Both events highlighted the CMFN’s new approach, responsible resource management (RRM) at the landscape level. CMFN members from thirteen sites across Canada, Natural Resources Canada representatives and members from the International Model Forest Network and international sites participated in the week’s events, each bringing unique perspectives and experiences to share throughout the discussions and presentations.

The CMFN has been active for over 20 years in Canada’s forest sector, and after many successes they are broadening their scope to apply some of those lessons learned to other Canadian natural resource sectors. The CMFN describes RRM as resource integration at the landscape level, a collaborative approach where natural resource managers from multiple sectors and stakeholders can work together towards common goals and objectives. This direction was showcased through RNA’s cooperative land management conference. RNA, a RRM pioneer, brought together multiple industries working on the landscape in BC to present, discuss and learn from one another how to work cooperatively. Presentations included representatives from Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), The Mining Association of BC, Council of Forest Industries, Ducks Unlimited Canada, First Nations Chiefs, BC ministries of Environment and Natural Resource Operations, and many more. In particular, RNA’s Model Forest panel discussion, underlined site level RRM initiatives, both in Canada and internationally.

Moreover, the week highlighted the launch of MFConnect, a service delivery branch of the CMFN. It is designed to bring together 20 years of experience across 15 Model Forest organizations to provide clients with professional, effective & unique service delivery, locally and regionally, by drawing on its network of expertise across the country. MF Connect will provide facilitation, event and project management services to government agencies, private companies and not-for-profits.

Overall, both the meeting and the conference were a great success, highlighting the CMFN’s transition, building on its past, and innovating for the future.

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The Canadian Model Forest Network (CMFN) is a not-for-Profit organization that connects stakeholders, facilitates knowledge transfer and develops practical tools, programs, and best practices that support responsible resource management.

Recent Publications

Biomass Heating & Electricity Production: A Guide for Rural Communities in Canada

Canada is a resource rich country, supporting a wealth of renewable and non-renewable resource industries. Canadians are stewards to a large portion of the world’s temperate and boreal forests. These forests provide a range of ecological services: from water purification and storage, erosion and flood control and air quality protection, to the provision of wildlife habitat. Forests also play a critical role in climate change mitigation, with Canadian forests sequestering an estimated 95 billion tonnes of carbon. Forests provide a range of economic values: from traditional forest products, recreational values and trapping, to the potential for energy production.

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Building on the strengths of your community

Each Model Forest works regionally to promote the sustainable management of large forest landscapes through research, education and applied projects. Model Forests support forest- based communities by bringing together the information, tools and best practices needed to overcome obstacles and identify new opportunities. This guide was developed under the national Socio-Economic Indicators program. It is supported by a steering committee of CMFN members and partners from across the country.

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Pathways to Climate Change Resilience

This Guidebook and the accompanying Community Resource Collection has
been crafted based on the idea that Canadian rural communities in forest settings want guidance in
understanding and acting to reduce community impacts from the changing climate. Collecting information
and existing tools into a useful framework has been the first step for this initiative.

For Resource Collection Click Here and for the Guidebook Click Here