SNC Sustainably Managing Forests in Eastern Ontario: Hardwood and Softwood Tender Opportunities
Forests are important natural resources, vital to our communities and the environment. They provide important environmental, economic, social and cultural benefits - and they're worth conserving, restoring and managing.
Sustainable forest management helps to maintain the long-term health of forests while providing benefits to the environment, surrounding ecosystems, wildlife, and residents.
Through Municipal and County partnerships, SNC sustainably manages over 20,000 acres of community forest in Eastern Ontario for conservation and recreation and receives donations of land every year to protect natural legacies.
Part of sustainable forest management involves removing less desirable trees from the landscape to be used for heating, construction, pulp and paper, or veneer. SNC offers part of this work to local forestry professionals to help contribute to the local economy.
“Sustainably managing a forest is critical to its health and productivity, and to the needs of the local economy and its industries” explains Pat Piitz, SNC’s Property Lead.
“In an overgrown forest, trees are all competing for the same resources, and ultimately they can’t grow to be strong and healthy if they don’t have room to breathe,” added Piitz. “We work with local contractors to sustainably harvest certain trees to help manage forest health and growth, and in turn that wood is used for local products.”
Current tender opportunities for both softwood and hardwood sales are now posted on the Conservation Authority’s website, with more to be added in the new year. Interested contractors are invited to review information online for the competitive bidding process.
SNC also works with local residents to help manage private woodlots through its free Woodlot Advisory Service, in which SNC visits forests under private ownership to offer management advice. Residents may also receive a $500 grant from SNC to help offset the cost of creating a forest management plan for tax incentives.
SNC offers its bilingual Woodlot Advisory Service free of charge to residents across the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry and the United Counties of Prescott and Russell.
“Forest conservation in Eastern Ontario is a priority for us,” says Piitz. “We’re committed to working with our community and municipal partners to protect and restore local forest cover.”
SNC will be hosting an online meeting for interested logging contractors on Thursday, October 22, at 10:00 am. Those interested in participating can contact info@nation.on.ca or call 1-877-984-2948.
More information on SNC’s Forestry Services can be found at: www.nation.on.ca/land/forestry-services.
Current and future tender opportunities for forest resources can be found at: www.nation.on.ca/about/job-opportunities-tenders.
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