Overview

A Forest Management Agreement (FMA) is a long-term (20 year), renewable, area based form of forest tenure and is the most secure tenure type in Alberta. Through the FMA, a company is given certain rights, including the right to establish, grow, harvest and remove Crown timber, in exchange for various responsibilities such as forest management planning and creation and maintenance of the forest inventory within the boundary of the FMA.

A FMA allocates timber and provides rights regarding that Crown timber and requires an approved forest management plan to be in place before any timber can be harvested. Alberta owns all timber located on provincial public ‘Crown’ lands.

The FMA is a model of shared government-industry responsibility and commitment, whereby the industry assumes a large share of the forest management responsibility with government oversight. In return for this commitment, the Crown grants the company long-term tenure security upon which to base investments in manufacturing plants. This long-term security includes a compensation mechanism if lands are withdrawn from their FMA.

FMAs provide stable, high paying jobs, rural community economic stability and sustainable forest management for Albertans.

Alberta currently has 20 forest management agreements, including 3 joint agreements. The size of a forest management agreement varies and agreement holders must follow sound forest management practices designed to provide a yield consistent with sustainable forest management principles and practices.

Agreement area sizes

The size of a forest management agreement in Alberta varies. The largest forest management agreement is in northeastern Alberta and covers approximately 58,120 square kilometres. It is managed by Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. The smallest, at 585 square kilometres near Slave Lake, is managed by Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd.

Look at the map of the current agreement areas

Spatial boundaries

Spatial boundaries for forest management agreement areas and the associated forest management unit boundaries can be downloaded from from AltaLIS, as part of their Base Features Geo Admin layer.

Responsibilities of holders

Forest management agreement holders must follow sound forest management practices designed to provide a yield consistent with sustainable forest management principles and practices.

They must also consider a broad range of forest values and social, economic and environmental factors such as:

  • watershed protection
  • maintenance of biodiversity
  • maintenance and protection of wildlife habitat

The agreement holders take on significant responsibility and accountability for forest management planning consistent with the Government of Alberta’s commitment to sustainable resource development. In addition, forest management agreement holders are required to provide an opportunity for public consultation during the development of a forest management plan for the area.

Find out more about forest management planning
Find out more about forest management plans
Find out more about forest tenure

Reforestation

Under Alberta law, a forest management agreement holder is responsible for the planning and reforestation following harvest operations. Reforestation efforts must be completed within 2 years of harvest. It must take place in all areas where timber is harvested.

The government sets reforestation standards and receives annual reforestation results from all commercial timber disposition holders. These results are monitored to ensure reforestation is successful.

Learn more about forest management standards and practices:

Agreement holders

View the map of Alberta forest management agreement areas.

View all forest management agreements.

Current forest management agreement holders and their respective forest management agreements are listed below:

  • Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc.

    Agreement: Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. forest management agreement – Unofficial Office Consolidation

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 6,371,308 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA9100029

    Agreement duration: September 1, 2011 to April 30, 2032

    Original agreement commenced: September 1, 1991

    Main facility: Bleached kraft pulp mill near Grassland

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • Alberta Forest Industries Ltd.
    • Ed Bobocel Lumber (1993) Ltd.
    • Kee Tas Kee Now Sawmill Ltd.
    • Northland Forest Products Ltd.
    • S-11 Logging Company Ltd.
    • Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd.
    • West Fraser Mills Ltd.
  • ANC Timber Ltd.

    Agreement: ANC Timber Ltd. forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 373,698 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA8900026

    Agreement duration: May 1, 2009 to April 30, 2029

    Original agreement commenced: June 13, 1989

    Main facility: Thermomechanical pulp and paper mill manufacturing newsprint near Whitecourt

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • Blue Ridge Lumber Inc.
    • Millar Western Forest Products Ltd.
  • Blue Ridge Lumber Inc.

    Agreement: Blue Ridge Lumber Inc. forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 661,085 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA7500020

    Agreement duration: May 1, 2008 to April 30, 2028

    Original agreement commenced: September 1, 1975

    Main facility: Dimension and MSR lumber sawmill and medium-density fibreboard (MDF) facility near Blue Ridge

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • ANC Timber Ltd.
    • Millar Western Forest Products Ltd.
  • Canadian Forest Products Ltd.

    Agreement: Canadian Forest Products Ltd. forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 644,684 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA9900037

    Agreement duration: May 1, 2015 to April 30, 2035

    Original agreement commenced: May 26, 1964

    Main facility: Dimension and MSR lumber sawmill in Grande Prairie

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • Tolko Industries Ltd.
    • Norbord Inc.
  • Manning Forest Products Ltd.

    Agreement: Manning Forest Products Ltd. forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 930,521 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA0200041

    Agreement duration: May 1, 2009 to April 30, 2029

    Original agreement commenced: March 12, 2002

    Main facility: Dimension lumber sawmill near Manning

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd.
    • West Fraser Mills Ltd.
  • Mercer Peace River Pulp Ltd.

    East

    Agreement: Mercer Peace River Pulp Ltd. forest management agreement East – Unofficial Office Consolidation

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 1,705,600 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA0900044

    Agreement duration: July 1, 2009 to April 30, 2029

    Original agreement commenced: September 14, 1989 as a single forest management agreement

    Main facility: Bleached aspen and bleached softwood kraft pulp mill near Peace River

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • Boucher Bros. Lumber Ltd.
    • Kee Tas Kee Now Sawmill Ltd.
    • Tolko Industries Ltd.
    • West Fraser Mills Ltd.

    West

    Agreement: Mercer Peace River Pulp Ltd. forest management agreement West – Unofficial Office Consolidation

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 956,826 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA9900045

    Agreement duration: July 1, 2009 to April 30, 2029

    Original agreement commenced: September 14, 1989 as a single forest management agreement

    Main facility: Bleached aspen and bleached softwood kraft pulp mill near Peace River

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
    • Tolko Industries Ltd.
    • Zavisha Sawmills Ltd.
  • Millar Western Forest Products Ltd.

    Agreement: Millar Western Forest Products Ltd. forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 440,667 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA9700034

    Agreement duration: May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2034

    Original agreement commenced: May 14, 1997

    Main facilities: Bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp mill and dimension lumber sawmills at Whitecourt and Fox Creek

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • Fort Assiniboine Lumber Ltd.
    • Weyerhaeuser Company Limited
  • Spray Lake Sawmills (1980) Ltd.

    Agreement: Spray Lake Sawmills (1980) Ltd. forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 284,307 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA0100038

    Agreement duration: May 1, 2015 to April 30, 2035

    Original agreement commenced: September 5, 2001

    Main facility: Dimension lumber sawmill and pressure-treated production facility in Cochrane

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • 764698 Alberta Ltd.
    • Balcaen Consolidated Contracting Ltd.
    • J.H. Neilson Forest Products Ltd.
    • Precision Forest Industries Ltd.
    • Red Rock Sawmills Ltd.
    • Sundre Forest Products Inc.
  • Sundre Forest Products Ltd.

    Agreement: Sundre Forest Products Inc. forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 553,298 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA9200030

    Agreement duration: September 1, 2012 to April 30, 2033

    Original agreement commenced: September 1, 1992

    Main facilities: Laminated veneer lumber plant near Rocky Mountain House; Sawmill and planer mill, and wood treating facility in Sundre

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • Lone Pine Financial Corporation
    • McLean Forest Products Ltd., Robert Mclean
    • Stanley Cech, Christopher Cech & Joey Cech
    • Strachan Forest Products Ltd.
    • Vanderleek and OpdenDries Investment Ltd.
    • Weyerhaeuser Company Limited
  • Tolko Industries Ltd. (High Prairie)

    Agreement: Tolko Industries Ltd. (High Prairie) forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 272,441 hectares

    Agreement Number: FMA9700033

    Agreement duration: May 13, 1997 to May 12, 2022

    Original agreement commenced: May 1, 1994

    Main facility: Oriented strand board facility near High Prairie

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • West Fraser Mills Ltd.
  • Tolko Industries Ltd., Norbord Inc. and La Crete Sawmills Ltd.

    Agreement: Tolko Industries Ltd./Norbord Inc./La Crete Sawmills Ltd. forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 3,556,900 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA0200040

    Agreement duration: January 1, 2011 to September 10, 2022

    Original agreement commenced: September 11, 2002

    Main facilities:

    • Tolko – Dimension lumber sawmill in High Level
    • Norbord – Oriented strand board facility near High Level
    • La Crete – Dimension lumber sawmill and pellet mill near La Crete

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd.
    • Mustus Energy Ltd.
    • NDEH Limited Partnership
    • Netaskinan Development Corporation
  • Tolko Industries Ltd., Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd., and West Fraser Mills Ltd.

    Agreement: Tolko Industries Ltd., Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd. and West Fraser Mills Ltd. forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 702,062 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA0600043

    Agreement duration: May 1, 2019 to April 30, 2039

    Original agreement commenced: January 1, 2006

    Main facilities:

    • Tolko – Specialty engineered wood products facility near Slave Lake
    • Vanderwell – Dimension lumber sawmill and wood pellets facility near Slave Lake
    • West Fraser Mills Ltd. – Sawmill and veneer mill near Slave Lake, and a plywood mill in Edmonton

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area: N/A

  • Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd.

    Agreement: Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd. forest management agreement

    • Total forest management agreements area: 84,262 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA9700036

    Agreement duration: May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2034

    Original agreement commenced: August 1, 1997

    Main facility: Dimension lumber sawmill and wood pellets facility near Slave Lake

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area: N/A

  • West Fraser Mills Ltd. (Edson)

    Agreement: West Fraser Mills Ltd. (Edson) forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 265,608 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA9700032

    Agreement duration: May 1, 2008 to April 30, 2028

    Original agreement commenced: January 14, 1997

    Main facility: Sawmill and specialty wood products facility near Edson

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • Tall Pine Timber Co. Ltd.
    • Precision Forest Industries Ltd.
  • West Fraser Mills Ltd. (Hinton)

    Agreement: West Fraser Mills Ltd. (Hinton) forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 987,934 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA8800025

    Agreement duration: May 1, 2008 to April 30, 2028

    Original agreement commenced: June 8, 1951

    Main facility: Bleached kraft pulp mill and dimension lumber sawmill in Hinton

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area: N/A

  • West Fraser Mills Ltd. (Slave Lake)

    Agreement: West Fraser Mills Ltd. (Slave Lake) forest management agreement -- Unofficial Office Consolidation

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 636,899 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA9000028

    Agreement duration: September 1, 2012 to April 30, 2033

    Original agreement commenced: November 15, 1990

    Main facility: Chemi-thermomechanical pulp mill near Slave Lake

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • Millar Western Forest Products Ltd.
    • Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd.
  • West Fraser Mills Ltd. and Tolko Industries Ltd.

    Agreement: West Fraser Mills Ltd. and Tolko Industries Ltd. forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 245,527 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA0200039

    Agreement duration: March 5, 2002 to March 4, 2022

    Original agreement commenced: March 5, 2002

    Main facilities: West Fraser sawmill and finger-joint facility in High Prairie; Tolko: Oriented strand board facility near High Prairie

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreements area:

    • 1104384 Alberta Ltd.
  • Weyerhaeuser Company Limited (Grande Prairie)

    Agreement: Weyerhaeuser Company Limited (Grande Prairie) forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 1,117,881 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA6900016

    Agreement duration: May 1, 2008 to April 30, 2028

    Original agreement commenced: January 3, 1969

    Main facility: Dimension lumber sawmill and electricity generation facility in Grande Prairie

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • Norbord Inc.
    • Tolko Industries Ltd.
  • Weyerhaeuser Company Limited (Pembina Timberland)

    Agreement: Weyerhaeuser Company Limited (Pembina Timberland) forest management agreement

    • Total (gross) forest management agreement area: 954,281 hectares

    Agreement number: FMA0900046

    Agreement duration: December 1, 2009 to April 30, 2030

    Original Drayton Valley agreement commenced: November 18, 2005

    Original Edson agreement commenced: May 1, 2008

    Main facilities: Oriented strand board plant near Edson, sawmill / planer mill facility near Drayton Valley

    Other forest companies operating on the forest management agreement area:

    • ANC Timber Ltd.
    • Blue Ridge Lumber Inc.
    • Bricso Wood Preservers Ltd.
    • Dale Hansen
    • Edfor Co-Operative Ltd.
    • Millar Western Forest Products Ltd.
    • Tall Pine Timber Co. Ltd.