Guiding Principles for Wetland Stewardship and Forest Management Practitioner Guide
More than two-thirds of Canada’s boreal forest is covered by aquatic ecosystems including wetlands, lakes, rivers and streams. Boreal wetlands provide a wealth of ecological, social and economic benefits that are important to society as well as the forest industry.
There is increasing evidence that wetlands and upland forests are interdependent. Because of these connections, sustainable forest management is key to sustaining healthy wetland habitats, and healthy wetlands are key to sustaining productive upland forests.
The information in the guide is intended to assist forest managers in achieving improved wetland stewardship by:
- Building an enhanced understanding of wetlands in the Canadian boreal plains and their value to the forest sector and society as a whole
- Describing the interactions between wetlands, upland forests and forest management,
- Establishing wetland stewardship principles, objectives, and planning considerations that will result in positive environmental outcomes
- Providing practices and tools to consider during forest management planning to help avoid or minimize adverse effects to wetlands.
The Guiding Principles for Wetland Stewardship and Forest Management Practitioner Guide is a product of the FMWSI, a collaboration between Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. Canfor, the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), Millar Western Forest Products Ltd., Tolko Industries Ltd., West Fraser, and Weyerhaeuser Company.
