OWA Private Lands Silviculture and Restoration Program (PLSRP)
The Community Forest Owners' Co-operative Pilot Project was established in 2001 to bring landowners together to apply best forest management principles to carefully planned partial harvests (thinnings).
This pilot was focussed on smaller landowners, especially those with conifer plantations, facing obstacles achieving their forest management objectives. By working together in a project managed by the OWA, it was possible to create economies of scale and attract a local tree marker and logger. While there was potential net revenue from the initial harvest, the short-term goal was to control invasive species and allow native trees to become naturally established.
"Even more important than the money we earned from the forest thinning, was all the information we received about how to properly manage our bush for the long term" Jack McFadden, Huronia Community Forest Owner
The pilot project had some success, but still faced challenges in attracting interest from loggers for smaller harvests. Also large equipment created access problems and left behind significant post-cut brush for clean-up.
The OWA Private Lands Silviculture and Restoration Program (PLSRP) is designed to address those challenges. Now in operation in both Huronia and the Kawarthas, PLSRP is lead by OWA staff and has the following objectives:
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Conduct silviculture that restores ecological processes in forests and improves forest health and productivity.
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Contribute to the viability and diversification of regional bio economies by using good business planning to blend revenue generating activities and financial support to achieve cost effectiveness and economic sustainability.
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Deliver broad and effective education and relationship building through integration with current OWA outreach, knowledge sharing activities including the Forest Certification program and the OWA's network of partners.
Funding for this program is being sought and regular updates will be provides as the program moves ahead. Our local HWOA contact for this program is Sandy Agnew.
