IFA Audit on the Pic Forest- October 3-7, 2022

This week, October 3-7, NFMC is participating in the Pic Forest Independent Forest Audit (IFA).  The IFA is performed every 5 years and and the audit results are tabled in the Ontario legislature and made available to the public.

The Independent Forest Audit (IFA) Program

The Forestry Futures Trust Committee has worked with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry since 1997 to deliver the annual Independent Forest Audit Program. The Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA) requires that each management unit in Ontario be audited at least once every five to seven years. The audits are conducted by independent audit firms selected through a competitive bidding process.  Both the Forest manager and the MNRF District is audited.

Purpose

The purpose of the independent forest audit is to:

i) document to what extent forest management planning activities comply with the Forest Management Planning Manual and the Act;
ii) assess to what extent forest management activities comply with the Act and with the forest management plans, the manuals approved under the   Act and the applicable guides;
iii) determine the effectiveness of forest management activities in meetings the forest management objectives set out in the forest management plan, as measured in relation to the criteria established for the audit;
iv) compare the forest management activities carried out with those that were planned;
v)  assess the effectiveness of any action plans implemented to remedy shortcomings revealed by a previous audit;
vi) review and assess a licensee’s compliance with the terms and conditions of the forest resources license.

For more information regarding the conduct of the Independent Forest Audits refer to the MNRF website at:

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Forests/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_167046.html