THUNDER BAY, ON - February 9, 2009 - The Northern Ontario Sustainable Communities Partnership (NOSCP) will host a workshop on “Community Forests: A Tenure Reform Option for Community Sustainability in Northern Ontario” March 4-5, 2009 at the Prince Arthur Hotel in Thunder Bay.

NOSCP was formed in November 2006 in response to the forest industry crisis in Northern Ontario. Participants in the ad hoc group are a wide range of individuals and organizations, including northern municipalities, non-governmental organizations, unions, academics and Aboriginal organizations. NOSCP sees the current crisis in the industry as an opportunity to re-evaluate the structure of the current forest sector in Ontario, especially forest tenures. NOSCP released its Northern Ontario Community Forest Charter in September 2007 (see http://www.gcf-on.ca/noscp for Charter and list of endorsers). The Charter spells out the rights and responsibilities of Northern Ontario residents and communities, including Aboriginal peoples and communities, to exercise shared control over and stewardship of northern forests.

The workshop will explore models of local governance for Crown forests that build on our Charter and develop a VISION for how community forests could become a reality in Northern Ontario. We will be guided by the expertise of community forest researchers and practitioners from across Canada and the perspectives of key stakeholders and First Nations. We hope to attract a wide range of participants to the workshop including those who are affected by and/or have influence on the forest sector in Northern Ontario.

Dr. Mark Robson of Lakehead University’s School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism and Co-Chair of NOSCP says:

"As a researcher of Local Citizens' Advisory Committees, this is the next step in giving northern Ontarions a real say in how the forests they live, work and play in are managed. It’s time that we join the 50 plus other countries that are moving towards greater community control over forests for sustainability."

The workshop is sponsored by the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada, Ecosuperior, Environment North, First Nations Forestry Program, Forest Renewal Coop, Geraldton Community Forest, Lakehead University, Matawa Tribal Council, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Thunder Bay Ventures.