Forest management planning strategy for bioenergy in remote aboriginal communities in Canada

This paper presents a framework for community-based forest management planning for bioenergy in remote Aboriginal communities in Canada. Modelled after work done by the National Aboriginal Forestry Association and provincial government agencies, the proposed approach to forest management planning provides the necessary information and format to develop a long-term and integrated resource management plan. It is designed to be adapted as part of a small-scale forestry operation to supply wood-chips for burning in biomass heating facilities. The framework allows individual communities to modify the format to suit their needs, and recognises and plans accordingly for the unique circumstances and characteristics of remote Aboriginal communities. The framework includes information for completing a plan including: period, 2land description, history, maps, biomass and non-timber inventories, sustainable harvest levels, activity schedules, monitoring, and review. Aboriginal involvement in broad district-level forest management plans is discussed in relation to and comparison with participation requirements for management planning for community-based bioenergy projects.