Ontario Bridge Training Program for Foresters

Forest ecosystem management balances ecological, social, and economic demands with the capacity of forest resources to provide for present and future values.

OBTF Standard 3 - Module 1 - Forest Values

Describe the variety of values and competing interests in a forest.
a. Identify and describe the range of values (timber and non-timber) in a forest.
b. Identify the interests and rights present in a forest including Indigenous Peoples’ rights, claims and interests in forests and the importance of implementing processes to determine and address them.
c. Describe the requirements of and interaction among these values.

OBTF Standard 3 - Module 2 - Forest Strategic and Operational Principals

Explain forest strategic and operational planning principles.
a. Explain why forest planning is required.
b. Discuss basic principles of planning.
c. Discuss planning tools.
d. Differentiate among levels of planning.
e. Describe the specific operational elements that should be included in a plan.

OBTF Standard 3 - Module 3 - Forest Cover Manipulation Strategies

Analyze and apply a range of forest cover manipulation strategies that effectively achieve a given set of objectives while minimizing negative impacts on other values from a perspective emphasizing:
a. Commercial extraction as the management objective; and
b. Management objectives that are non-extractive.

OBTF Standard 3 - Module 4 - Legal and Policy Framework in Forest Management

Explain the legal and policy framework.
a. Describe forest regulation/legislation /policies and procedures (nationally and regionally specific) and the importance to forest management.

OBTF Standard 3 - Module 5 - Forest Management Concepts

Discuss forest management concepts.
a. Explain various management approaches and situations where they might be used.
b. Describe risk and uncertainty in forest management options.
c. Describe the application, design and function of adaptive management.
d. Discuss the cumulative impacts of forestry and other land use practices (e.g. oil and gas, urban development) on various forest resources.
e. Describe the role and application of monitoring in forestry.

OBTF Standard 3 - Module 6 - Global Trends in Forest Management

Describe how global drive trends and influence forest management.
a. Identify global trends.
b. Explain the influence of global trends on regionally specific forest management.

OBTF Standard 3 - Module 7 - Resource Plan Development ‘Capstone Project’

Develop a resource planning document that incorporates current economic, environmental and social values into actions that lead to achieving the planning objectives and to future desired conditions and goals.
a. Identify and describe resource abundance through time and space and determine the management activities required to provide for a sustainable supply of consumptive and non- consumptive goods and services.
b. Plan resource use decisions and determine the harvest of resources (including timber) within the context of larger, socially-defined goals.

Canada’s forest resources provide a wide variety of goods and services. Utilizing forest resources requires knowledge of the principles of allocation of limited resources among competing interests and the economic, policy and administrative forces that cause change.

OBTF Standard 4 - Module 1 - Business & Project Plans

Describe the content and importance of business and project plans.
a. Explain the importance of business plans and project plans.
b. Identify the components of a business plan.
c. Prepare a project plan.

OBTF Standard 4 - Module 2 - Risk Management

Describe risk management relative to forest resources.
a. Describe the limitations, including risk and uncertainty, in managing forests and forest operations.
b. Perform a sensitivity analysis for a management action or strategy.
c. Recognize the impact of natural disturbance on the availability of forest resources.

OBTF Standard 4 - Module 3 - Organizational Structure & Function

Describe organizational structure and function.
a. Discuss social, environmental and economic effects of policies and strategies that impact forestry as developed by various organizations.
b. Describe Indigenous peoples’ interactions with relevant organizations.
c. Describe effects of labour relations on forestry.
d. Explain the effects of certification programs on forestry.
e. Describe the role of government in society as a process for establishing legislation and policy.

OBTF Standard 4 - Module 4 - Business Concepts in Resource Management Planning

Discuss business concepts that apply to a management plan.
a. Describe the business objectives that must be considered in resource management planning.
b. Discuss the concept of balancing environmental, social, and economical considerations in resource management planning.
c. Identify various products produced from forests and the markets they serve.
d. Discuss concepts of best end-use and value-added products as related to forest resources.

OBTF Standard 4 - Module 5 - Forest Products & National & Global Trends

Recognize the effects of national and global trends on supply and demand, and flow of forest-based products including price and production.
a. Describe basic principles of macroeconomics and their application to forest resources.
b. Discuss the effects of international policies on Canada’s ability to compete.
c. Explain Canada’s evolving position in global markets.
d. Recognize full cost analysis for multiple-use where information is available.

OBTF Standard 4 - Module 6 - Operational Plan Development

Prepare and defend a basic operational plan for a project to achieve resource management objectives within available resources.
a. Plan and implement a project with emphasis on human resources, production schedules and budgeting
b. Explain the role of performance measures (e.g. human resources, financial, timelines and production).
c. Defend a plan of action.