Big pic forest receives FSC certification.

• Author: Ross, Ian

A Crown forest management corporation has obtained chain of custody certification for the Big Pic Forest in northwestern Ontario.

The Nawiinginokiima Forest Management Corporation (NFMC), on the north shore of Lake Superior, has secured FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification.

It's considered a milestone for the provincially created agency as the certification makes wood harvested on the Big Pic Forest more attractive for its partnering mills to sell product to wider markets.

NFMC board chair Daryl Skworchins-ki said mills in the area, particularly AV Terrace Bay, played a big role in attaining the certification.

"AV Terrace Bay really approached us initially to partner on the process."

As the largest industrial player on the land base, the Indian company's entire global operations are moving toward FSC certification.

AV Terrace Bay, also known as Aditya Birla, converted a former Buchanan pulp mill into a specialty pulp operation to make rayon for textiles in its international operations.

"It really opens up tremendous opportunity right across the globe," said Skworchinski.

The process started a year ago and was carried out in conjunction with the Rain Forest Alliance. He found it a surprisingly rigorous and comprehensive auditing process that involves engagement with NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and Aboriginal consultation.

"It really makes you take an internal look at your past practices."

The NFMC is the province's first local forest management corporation. It was established in 2011 as part of the province's overhaul of the forest tenure system. The organization's partners include the Aboriginal communities of Pic River. Pic Mobert and Hornepayne, along with the towns of Marathon, Hornepayne, Manitouwadge and White River.

The Big Pic Forest is one of four units in the management area that encompasses 1.9 million hectares of Crown forest with an available annual harvest volume of 2.2-million cubic metres of merchantable fibre and 435,000 cubic metres of biomass.

Skworchinski said the plan is to eventually...