Our History
As the governments of the 1990’s faced increasing pressure to manage fiscal and human resources, responsibilities for managing Crown forests shifted to the industries that benefit from them. The invention of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act allowed for this transition under a new delivery model of Sustainable Forest Licences (SFLs). This led to the creation of the Bancroft Minden Forest Company which was officially staffed and incorporated in 1998 to assume the role of the SFL holder. Local mills and operators mobilized and, over the course of several years, negotiated and developed a Shareholder Agreement (signed April 1st, 2000) that is the foundation of our Company. The SFL was issued to BMFC shortly thereafter in July of 2001.
The Crown Forest Sustainability Act
The Crown Forest Sustainability Act (CFSA) came into effect in 1994 with the purpose to provide for the sustainability of Crown forests, accomplished through management that meets social, economic and environmental needs of present and future generations. Defined as “long term Crown Forest health.”
The CFSA created the framework for Sustainable Forest Licences (SFL’s) that entitle the holder (commonly a private company) to harvest timber on Crown land and include the responsibility for planning, monitoring, renewing and reporting on forest management activities.
Sustainable Forest Licenses
SFLs are issued for a 20 year term, and subject to review/renewal every 10 years by the Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry based on the results of an independent audit of Company operations.
The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry has final approval authority and retains an audit role over many activities of the Bancroft Minden Forest Company.
Silvicultural activities are financed via the renewal portion of the Ontario Government stumpage matrix for the Bancroft Minden Forest (Crown timber charges for forestry companies – Datasets – Ontario Data Catalogue). Renewal fees are paid by the consuming mills and fully cover the renewal and tending costs associated with forest management activities. The balance of the activities are funded by the BMFC Shareholders or grants through the forestry futures trust fund.
