Forestry protocol implementation team

The forestry protocol implementation team (FPIT) is established in accordance with section B-1 of the protocol agreement to oversee the implementation of the Protocol.

Mandate

The FPIT will support the implementation, review and reporting on the Protocol through a collaborative approach between staff from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). The FPIT reports to the Canada‐Ontario Fisheries Advisory Board (CONFAB).

Terms of reference

Appendix 4 establishes the FPIT terms of reference and outlines the purpose, roles and responsibilities, membership and administrative aspects.

Reporting and monitoring

Sections D-2 and E-3 of the protocol agreement stipulate conditions related to annual reporting and compliance and effectiveness monitoring (relatively). The following sections provide additional information to support FPIT in completing these tasks.

Annual reporting

MNRF will complete an annual report detailing the number and types of water crossings that are constructed or removed using the Protocol and any corresponding compliance monitoring (appendix 5). Provincial scale data on forestry water crossings is not available until March 1st of the following fiscal year (e.g. 2018/19 data is not available until March 1, 2020). The annual reports will be presented to CONFAB at their bi-annual spring meeting (i.e. May or June).

Appendix 5 establishes annual reporting requirements and provides a template to support MNRF in completing these reports. Additional information related to the annual reporting team and roles and responsibilities in provided in the FPIT terms of reference (appendix 4).

Compliance and effectiveness monitoring

Data and feedback collected as part of MNRF, DFO and/or proponent monitoring activities will be used to evaluate how the stated goals and objectives of the Protocol are being met and to support improvements and revisions to future versions of the Protocol, while supporting an adaptive management approach to policy development.

  1. Compliance monitoring of construction and removal activities

    MNRF will continue to implement focused monitoring and compliance efforts on water crossing construction and removal projects as per approved FMPs and AWS, the requirements of the MNRF forest compliance handbook, and this Protocol.

    When developing annual compliance and monitoring priorities, MNRF may choose to prioritize some of their efforts on higher-risk water crossing projects. Compliance and monitoring efforts for water crossings using a water crossing standard should focus on compliance with the requirements set out in the applicable water crossing standard and determining if the selected water crossing standards were appropriate for the actual site conditions at the crossing.

  2. Effectiveness monitoring of the Protocol

    MNRF will review the effectiveness of the Protocol to confirm that the Protocol is providing for timely and efficient approvals of forestry water crossings.

    MNRF and DFO will also evaluate the effectiveness of the Protocol in achieving its stated objectives. The requirements of water crossing standards will be evaluated relative to new science and operational experience and updated when required to help ensure that the objectives of the Protocol continue to be achieved.

In order to achieve effectiveness monitoring of the Protocol, MNRF and/or DFO may pursue strategic partnerships with the forest industry and/or other external and academic partners and the science community to collect the necessary data to make informed assessments of the efficacy of the Protocol.