| | Background | Mission, vision and goals | What the program provides? | Woodlot management | Program partners | Agdex documents | Woodlot links
"A joint venture between government, industry, non-government organizations and the Woodlot Association of Alberta"
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Background
Woodlots are track of the land of any size or shape that contain areas of trees either naturally occuring or planted. Throughout the Alberta agricultural landscape almost 1.5 million hectares are covered by forest. Alberta woodlots are found in a variety of landscapes ranging from foothills or boreal forests with nearly continuous tree cover to small bluffs of aspen in the parkland/ grassland transition. The ecological diversity and economic opportunities from woodlots is different than non-forested land. Each individual woodlot or forested ecosystem, regardless of size, has unique qualities. These qualities must be recognized and plans put in place to aid resource managers, landowners and society in general to manage these ecosystems in a manner that maintains their uniqueness, diversity and ecological integrity.
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Mission, Vision and Goals
Mission:
To achieve sustainable woodlot management on private land by providing support to landowners, land managers and others who influence land use practices in Alberta.
Vision:
A permanent woodlot extension program is administered by the Alberta Government and supported by a partnership of industry, all levels of government and conservation organizations. The program aims at quality woodlot stewardship, the adoption of beneficial management practices of private forested land, and sustainable landscape management in Alberta.
Goals:
- Increased awareness of economic, social and environmental implications of agricultural area forest management.
Management of forests and woodlots in the agricultural area of Alberta has long term implications for the environmental integrity and economic stability of rural areas. How parcels are managed, individually and on a landscape basis, has implications for water quality, water supply, soil sustainability, wildlife and biological diversity. Management of forest parcels for their timber and non-timber values has the potential to provide a diversified source of income for landowners. Increased awareness of the range of values and opportunities associated with sustained forest management will lead to balanced decision making by land owners and policy makers concerning issues related to forested land.
- Increased landowner participation in sustainable woodlot management and agroforestry.
Only a small portion of the agriculture area in Alberta is being managed as sustainable woodlots. Landowners must actively manage these areas in a sustainable fashion to protect the resource and achieve land use goals.
- Promote integrated community land use planning that acknowledges the values of forest resources.
Managers and land owners within the rural communitites have to commit to sustainable forested land development at a landscape level to address wildlife habitat, economic, social and other values. Integrated community land use planning will be developed with regard to landscape values and in cooperation with a variety of resources. WEP will promote sustainable ecosystem managment and long term land and forest management at the community and landscape level.
The Program Provides:
- Awareness to landowners and public about woodlots and agroforestry.
- Technical information on woodlots.
- Assistance development of woodlot management plans.
- Contact between government, conservation association and forest companies.
- Resource information.
- Demonstration sites and tours.
- Workshop and seminars.
About Woodlot Management
Approximately 4 % or 1.5 million hectares of forested land in Alberta are classified as woodlots. Economic, environmental and social aspect of woodlots in Alberta agricultural zone is significant.
Graph 1. Forested land in Alberta by ownership
Most of the woodlots produce several values. The environmental value of the woodlots is often measured by their ability to provide habitat for wildlife, control soil erosion, protect watersheds, outdoor recreation and tourism. Social values such as personal satisfaction and enjoyment are also very important. Economic value of the woodlot is to produce forest products, diversify rural and farm economies, and to be a complement to crop rotation.
Opportunities for logging on private land have increased in recent years. This has prompted farmers to consider harvesting timber on their land. There are a number of ways that farmers can go about harvesting their timber depending on their long- and short-term needs. Logging can also have many impacts on the soil, water, wildlife and aesthetics of the landowner's land and surrounding landscape. Developing a plan will ensure that all options have been considered and that the option chosen fits the goals for the land and the farming operation.
Partners in the Program
Ainsworth Lumber Company Ltd.
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Alberta Pacific Forest Industries Inc. –ALPAC
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Canadian Forest Service
Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd
Ducks Unlimited Canada-DU
Footner Forest Product
The Land Stewardship Centre of Canada
Millar Western Forest Products Ltd..
Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration- PFRA
Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd.
West Fraser Mills Ltd.
Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd.
Woodlot Association of Alberta
Agdex Documents
Conservation and Logging on Private Land in Alberta
Consideration for Timber Harvesting Activities
Field Shelterbelts for Soil Conservation
Shelterbelt Varieties for Alberta
Shelterbelts in Alberta
Should you harvest Timber?
Weed Control for Shelterbelts
Other Useful Woodlot Links
Alberta Woodlot Inventory Map
Energy from Wood - Kalwa Biogenics
Impact of Forest Harvesting
Woodlot Harvesting
Woodlot Management Planning
Woodlot Management: Regulations
Woodlot Regneration System
Woodlots and Wildlife
Woodlots Web Sites |
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