New Brunswick Private Land Task Force – Terms of Reference

Government has reviewed the outcomes from the Forestry Summit New Brunswick’s Forest Industry: Fundamentals for Future Competitiveness and, as part of its strategy to create a healthy and vibrant New Brunswick forest sector, established two task forces, one for the definition of timber objectives on Crown land and the other for private land. This document contains the Terms of Reference for the Private Land Task Force.

The purpose of the Private Land Task Force is two-fold:

1. collaboratively define and clarify the key elements and considerations associated with defining a timber objective for New Brunswick’s private woodlots, and
   
   
2. make recommendations by Dec. 31, 2011, to the Minister of Natural Resources for a specific timber objective on private woodlots that takes into account owner objectives, the various stakeholder viewpoints, marketing considerations and assistance programs associated with New Brunswick’s private woodlots.

Private Land Task Force members are appointed by the Minister for the period Feb. 1, 2011, until Dec. 31, 2011. Individuals will be appointed on the basis of their impartiality and their ability to contribute in a constructive manner to the definition of a timber objective for New Brunswick private land. Members will be able and willing to devote adequate time to meeting the objectives of the task force. The chairperson will be responsible for leading the task force and ensuring that the objectives are met. The task force will include:

• Donald Floyd (chairperson of the Private Land Task Force)

• Robert Ritchie and Tony Rotherham (members at large)

• To review existing reports including the 2004 Select Committee on Wood Supply report, the 2008 Management Alternatives for New Brunswick’s Public Forest report by the Task Force on Forest Diversity and Wood Supply (Erdle Task Force) and, the Crown Lands and Forests Act, the New Brunswick Biodiversity Strategy, the Solange Nadeau report entitled Public Views on Forest Management in New Brunswick: Report from a Provincial Survey, and the 2008 Woodbridge-Roberts Future Opportunities for the Forest Products Industry in New Brunswick report.

• To build upon these existing reports in defining and recommending a timber objective for private land.

• To meet with the necessary stakeholders to obtain information needed to develop a timber objective on private land.

The Private Land Task Force shall seek input from First Nations and stakeholders relevant to the New Brunswick forest sector including industry and  non-governmental organizations.

The Private Land Task Force shall make monthly progress reports to the Department of Natural Resources through the chairperson. Final recommendations will be made to the Minister of Natural Resources.