In late 2019, the Ministry of Environment and the Saskatchewan Environmental Code Advisory Committee sought feedback on a proposed new Forest Inventory Chapter for inclusion in the Saskatchewan Environmental Code.
The ministry has been working with the Code Advisory Committee and the Forestry Content Committee on this new initiative, which will govern forest inventories created in preparation of forest management plans, pursuant to The Forest Resources Management Act.
The Forest Inventory Chapter will establish an updated and efficient approach for Saskatchewan that is responsive to new and evolving technologies. The existing Saskatchewan Forest Vegetation Inventory Standard and associated audit protocols have been consolidated into the new inventory standard.
Inventories are used to understand the current state of the forest; evaluate various forest management values, objectives, indicators and targets; and help with forest management planning preparation and tactical or operational harvest planning.
The chapter enables licence holders to propose alternatives to the various components of the standard.
The ministry, in consultation with the Forestry Content Committee, is reviewing the responses and will report back on what we heard. The report will be emailed to stakeholders and posted on the Government of Saskatchewan website in early 2020.