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Economic impact of the Alberta forest industry

Description

This report provides a snapshot into the current financial state of the Alberta's forest products sector and outlines the key contributions of forestry within the regions where it operates.

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Alberta furbearer harvest data analysis

Description

A literature review was conducted to examine the potential uses and limitations of using trapper harvest data to monitor species distribution and population trend. Harvest, price, and distribution... More ≫

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A literature review was conducted to examine the potential uses and limitations of using trapper harvest data to monitor species distribution and population trend. Harvest, price, and distribution of harvest for most furbearers in Alberta is presented. In addition, an attempt is made to measure changes in abundance by mapping distribution across time and calculating an abundance index based on harvest and pelt price. To make better use of current and future Alberta furbearer harvest data, the following suggestions are offered: The Alberta trapper harvest data needs to be collected consistently for the entire province; harvest data collection should be based on pelt counts rather than unverified trapper affidavits; an index of abundance for each species based on a thorough analysis of correlations between harvest and various indices of effort, and the findings of others should be developed; data verification routines are required to enhance consistency; and each year all collected...

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Co-ordinating land use planning on public lands with municipalities

Description

Land use planning is a responsibility shared by the provincial government and local municipalities. The co-ordination of planning activities is a key factor in sustainable development and... More ≫

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Land use planning is a responsibility shared by the provincial government and local municipalities. The co-ordination of planning activities is a key factor in sustainable development and long-term use of public lands. It also helps achieve local economic development and land use objectives.

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Chisholm Fire Review Committee final report

Description

The Chisholm fire of May 23 – June 4, 2001 and the surrounding events prompted the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development to establish a committee to review the fire incident. The Chisholm... More ≫

Description

The Chisholm fire of May 23 – June 4, 2001 and the surrounding events prompted the Minister of Sustainable Resource Development to establish a committee to review the fire incident. The Chisholm Fire Review Committee carried out this review in the summer of 2001 through a public outreach process, a review of department policies and procedures and discussions with department staff. Generally, Alberta’s fire suppression activities conducted by Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) are very effective, however a small percentage of wildfires continue to escape initial suppression efforts to become large fires. This is of particular concern in wildland-urban areas, such as Chisholm. Broadly, the Committee concludes that it is necessary to address wildland-urban issues proactively in a cooperative and interdisciplinary manner. The Chisholm Fire Review Committee believes that such actions will increase human safety, decrease property losses and allow wildland fire suppression...

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Industrial activity in foothills fescue grasslands - guidelines for minimizing surface disturbance

Description

Extensive tracts of foothills fescue grassland (the provincial grass of Alberta) within the landscape of southwestern Alberta have been lost due to agricultural crop production, industrial... More ≫

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Extensive tracts of foothills fescue grassland (the provincial grass of Alberta) within the landscape of southwestern Alberta have been lost due to agricultural crop production, industrial development, urban and rural infrastructure. As a result, a protective notation (PNT) has been placed on specified public lands known to include foothills fescue grassland. The purpose of the PNT is not to restrict development but to alert industry to the environmental and economic risk. This document serves as a supplement to the information letter designating the PNT.

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Alberta prairie conservation action plan

Description

The Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) focuses on conserving the biological diversity of Alberta's native prairie ecosystems. PCAP recognizes the past and present role of ranching in... More ≫

Description

The Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP) focuses on conserving the biological diversity of Alberta's native prairie ecosystems. PCAP recognizes the past and present role of ranching in preserving the prairie ecosystem. It also recognizes the heritage value of the prairie, along with its cultural and economic contributions. Through an approach of consensus and co-operation, the program encourages the incorporation of conservation ethics as part of all activities and management decisions on the prairies, particularly with community initiatives. PCAP is implemented through the Prairie Conservation Forum (PCF), which is a multi-stakeholder group that meets periodically to discuss and monitor initiatives for prairie conservation.

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Blue Ridge Lumber Inc. forest management plan : 2009 mountain pine beetle amendment

Description

Forest company forest management plans (FMPs) detail when, where and how timber on Alberta Crown land will be managed in order to balance social, economic and environmental needs based on input... More ≫

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Forest company forest management plans (FMPs) detail when, where and how timber on Alberta Crown land will be managed in order to balance social, economic and environmental needs based on input from the public, Indigenous peoples and interest groups. The forest management planning area (FMA) under consideration is Blue Ridge Lumber Inc. FMA 7500020 is located in the west central part of the province, and spans portions of three natural sub-regions including the Central Mixedwood, the Upper Foothills and the Lower Foothills. The Landscape Assessment component of the Detailed FMP describes the planning area in greater detail.

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Environmentally significant areas : provincial update 2009

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The purpose of this report is to provide an overview for the update of ESAs in the province of Alberta. ESAs represent places in Alberta that are vital to the long-term maintenance of biological... More ≫

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The purpose of this report is to provide an overview for the update of ESAs in the province of Alberta. ESAs represent places in Alberta that are vital to the long-term maintenance of biological diversity, soil, water, or other natural processes, at multiple spatial scales. They are identified as areas containing rare or unique elements in the province, or areas that include elements that may require special management consideration due to their conservation needs. As applied to resource management systems in Alberta, ESA mapping is a strategic conservation tool that is useful to the development of landuse planning and policy. Identifying these areas using scientifically rigourous, defendable, and relevant methodology is the first step toward the successful integration of ecological values into provincial land-use planning and management. It enables decision makers to rapidly progress through the planning process where informed trade-offs can be discussed, priorities set and clear...

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Aerial herbicide application for brush control information fact sheet

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An important economic consideration in the management of Alberta's tame pastures is controlling the amount of woody plants such as trees and shrubs (also called brush encroachment). In low cover... More ≫

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An important economic consideration in the management of Alberta's tame pastures is controlling the amount of woody plants such as trees and shrubs (also called brush encroachment). In low cover amounts, woody plants on tame pastures can provide complimentary livestock forage, provide shade, act as a snow trap, and provide benefits to wildlife. However, in higher amounts (increased density, diameter, height and cover), woody plants often become competitive and reduce the forage productivity of the tame pasture. In turn, this result can reduce grazing benefits and increase pasture management costs. In situations where woody regrowth is competitive with grazing interests, a number of management control options are available, such as biological (e.g., federally registered brush control herbicides).

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Final documentation report Chisholm fire (LWF-063)

Description

As the severity of the 2001 fire season developed in late May, Land and Forest Service escalated man-up and aircraft expenditures significantly above normal levels in expectation of increased fire... More ≫

Description

As the severity of the 2001 fire season developed in late May, Land and Forest Service escalated man-up and aircraft expenditures significantly above normal levels in expectation of increased fire load. Prior to fire activity in the Protection Zone of Alberta, municipalities in the agricultural areas were experiencing extreme fire behaviour and property losses. This is the context for Alberta’s latest record fire event – the Chisholm fire (LWF-063), which was man-caused, igniting on May 23, 2001. It is notable that the fire intensity for the Chisholm fire replaces the previous record calculation of the 1968 Vega fire, which ran parallel to the Chisholm fire. Both fires started the same day of the same month 33 years apart; both were driven by a low-level jet wind; and both fires ended their run just south of the Town of Slave Lake as a result of a major weather change.

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