Securing dependable jobs, sustainable timber access

The Government of Alberta has renewed two Grande Prairie and Pembina Timberlands forest management agreements (FMAs) held by Weyerhaeuser Company Limited for the next 20 years in exchange for important stewardship responsibilities. These agreements establish the company’s right to grow and harvest Crown timber from forest management units near Grande Prairie and Drayton Valley.

Over their lifespans, the renewed Grande Prairie and Pembina FMAs are expected to maintain more than 1,250 full-time, contract and seasonal positions, and will potentially contribute:

• $12.2 million and $14.7 million in annual holding and protection charge payments

• $313 million and $277 million in timber dues

• $3.2 billion and $3.5 billion to Alberta’s gross domestic product

“The decision to renew Weyerhaeuser’s forest management agreements is a great example of how we can provide industry partners with the security needed for long-term investment, maintain hundreds of well-paying jobs for Albertans and ensure sustainable management practices for Alberta’s forests. A competitive forestry sector drives growth by ensuring that our wood fibre products remain sought-after in a globalized economy.”

“We’re very pleased with the decision to renew these tenure agreements. This support reinforces confidence in our long-standing investments, providing continued security for employees and partners across both regions. Weyerhaeuser is proud of the strong local working relationships, including Indigenous communities, which are foundational to our activities in these areas. Our focus on sustainability and responsible resource management reflects our deep commitment to accountable stewardship practices that benefits our Indigenous and community neighbours.”

Forest management agreements

An FMA is the most secure type of forest tenure, providing a company with rights to establish, grow and harvest timber on Crown land consistent with sustainable forest management principles and practices. FMAs also establish numerous legal obligations for companies, including developing forest management plans that help protect biodiversity, increase forest resilience and reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires and mountain pine beetle outbreaks.

Forest Jobs Action Plan

Approval of Weyerhaeuser’s FMAs supports the Forest Jobs Action Plan initiative to provide forest companies with long-term fibre access, ensuring that Alberta’s forests continue to provide ecological, economic, social and cultural benefits for future generations.

Quick facts

• Weyerhaeuser Grande Prairie’s FMA for operations in forest management unit (FMU) G16 was first established in 1969 and applies to an area of 1,117,146 hectares located mostly south of Grande Prairie.

  • Weyerhaeuser’s Grande Prairie sawmill and associated activities in the area employ 277 full-time staff and about 380 contract staff in logging, transportation and other forestry support services.

• Weyerhaeuser’s Pembina Timberlands FMA, for operations in FMU R15, was first established in 2005 and applies to an area of 953,917 hectares located in five pieces north and south of Edson and west of Drayton Valley.

  • Weyerhaeuser’s Drayton Valley sawmill employs 160 full-time employees. In Edson, the oriented strand board facility employs 300 full-time equivalents and 150 seasonal employees.

• FMA holders are subject to strict requirements to reforest harvested areas within two years. On average, forest companies plant two trees for every tree harvested, establishing young, healthy forests that provide for wildlife habitat. Over the lives of the current FMAs, Weyerhaeuser has planted more than 373 million seedlings.

  • About 286 million seedlings have been planted under Weyerhaeuser’s Grande Prairie FMA.

  • More than 88 million seedlings have been planted under Weyerhaeuser’s Pembina Timberlands FMA.