Fundy Model Forest: Partners in sustainable forest management

Scenario planning was used to develop a consensus-based, multi-stakeholder management planning process for a 114 000 ha land base in New Brunswick, Ca nada. This is part of the Fundy Model Forest, which involves four major lan downer groups, along with 26 other Partnership organizations. Public consul tation and Partnership input were used to define 25 scenarios, determining effects of alternative means of riparian strip management, road constructio n, vegetation and insect control, harvesting, maintenance of biodiversity, and plantation establishment. The Woodstock forest modelling software was u sed to determine effects of each scenario on timber supply, forest structur e, measures of biodiversity and ecological integrity, areas of mature fores t, and wildlife habitat. In a series of workshops, the Partners were succes sful in reaching consensus on a Fundy Model Forest "preferred" management s cenario, which was conveyed to the land managers for implementation. Develo pment of the management planning process and the use of scenario planning p rocedures in the Fundy Model Forest are described.