Facts about FMAs
What is the size of a Forest Management Agreement (FMA)?
The size of an FMA varies. In Alberta, the largest FMA is located in northeastern Alberta and covers approximately 58,120 square kilometres. It is managed by Alpac Forest Products Incorporated. Vanderwell Contractors Ltd.'s FMA located near Slave Lake is the smallest, at 585 square kilometres.
Spatial boundaries for both Forest Management Agreement (FMA) areas as well as the associated Forest Management Unit (FMU) boundaries can be downloaded from AltaLIS, as part of their Base Features Geo Admin layer. The data is available as a shapefile in NAD_1983_10TM_AEP_ForestProjection.
How many FMAs are there in Alberta?
Alberta presently has 20 FMAs, including three joint FMAs. More information about current forest management agreement (FMA) holders, their Forest Management Agreement and approved Forest Management Plan is available at:
Do FMA holders have more planning responsibilities than other forest tenures?
Yes. FMA holders must manage the forest on a long-term, sustained yield basis. They must also consider a broad range of forest values and social, economic and environmental factors such as watershed, environment and wildlife habitat. FMA holders take on greater responsibility and accountability for forest management planning consistent with the Government of Alberta's commitment to sustainable resource development. In addition, FMA holders are required to provide an opportunity for public consultation during the development of a Forest Management Plan for the area.
For more information about forest management planning, see:
Are FMA holders responsible for reforestation?
Yes. Under Alberta law, an FMA holder is responsible for the planning and reforesting after harvest. Reforestation efforts must be completed within two years of harvest and must take place in all areas where timber is harvested. The government sets reforestation standards and also receives annual reforestation results for all commercial timber dispositions. These results are monitored to ensure reforestation is successful.
For more information on forest management standards and practices, see:
FMA holders
The following is a list of the current forest management agreement (FMA) holders:
Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc
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 FMA 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.
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 6,371,308 hectares
ANC Timber Ltd.
Agreement Duration: May 1, 2009 - 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 FMA area:
- Blue Ridge Lumber Inc.
- Millar Western Forest Products Ltd.
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 373,698 hectares
Blue Ridge Lumber Inc.
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 FMA area:
- ANC Timber Ltd.
- Millar Western Forest Products Ltd.
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 661,085 hectares
Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
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 FMA area:
- Tolko Industries Ltd.
- Norbord Inc.
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 644,684 hectares
Manning Forest Products Ltd.
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 FMA area:
- Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd.
- West Fraser Mills Ltd.
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 930,521 hectares
Mercer Peace River Pulp Ltd.
East
Agreement Duration: July 1, 2009 to April 30, 2029
Original agreement commenced: September 14, 1989 as a single FMA
Main facility: Bleached aspen and bleached softwood kraft pulp mill near Peace River.
Other forest companies operating on the FMA area:
- Boucher Bros. Lumber Ltd.
- Kee Tas Kee Now Sawmill Ltd.
- Tolko Industries Ltd.
- West Fraser Mills Ltd.
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 1,705,600 hectares
West
Agreement Duration: July 1, 2009 to April 30, 2029
Original agreement commenced: September 14, 1989 as a single FMA
Main facility: Bleached aspen and bleached softwood kraft pulp mill near Peace River.
Other forest companies operating on the FMA area:
- Canadian Forest Products Ltd.
- Tolko Industries Ltd.
- Zavisha Sawmills Ltd.
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 956,826 hectares
Millar Western Forest Products Ltd.
Agreement Duration: May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2034
Original agreement commenced: May 14, 1997
Main facility: Bleached chemi-thermomechanical pulp mill and dimension lumber sawmills at Whitecourt and Fox Creek.
Other forest companies operating on the FMA area:
- Fort Assiniboine Lumber Ltd.
- Weyerhaeuser Company Limited
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 440,667 hectares
Spray Lake Sawmills (1980) Ltd.
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 FMA 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.
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 284,307 hectares
Sundre Forest Products Ltd.
Agreement Duration: September 1, 2012 to April 30, 2033
Original agreement commenced: September 1, 1992
Main facility: Laminated veneer lumber plant near Rocky Mountain House; Sawmill/planer mill and wood treating facility in Sundre.
Other forest companies operating on the FMA 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
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 553,298 hectares
Tolko Industries Ltd. (High Prairie)
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 FMA area:
- West Fraser Mills Ltd.
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 272,441 hectares
- Tolko Industries Ltd. (High Prairie) FMA document (PDF, 3.0 MB)
Tolko Industries Ltd., Norbord Inc. and La Crete Sawmills Ltd.
Agreement Duration: January 1, 2011 to September 10, 2022
Original agreement commenced: September 11, 2002
Main facility: 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 FMA area:
- Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd.
- Mustus Energy Ltd.
- NDEH Limited Partnership
- Netaskinan Development Corporation
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 3,556,900 hectares
Tolko Industries Ltd., Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd., and West Fraser Mills Ltd.
Agreement Duration: May 1, 2019 to April 30, 2039
Original agreement commenced: January 1, 2006
Main facility: 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 FMA area: N/A
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 702,062 hectares
- Tolko Industries Ltd., Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd. and West Fraser Mills Ltd. FMA (PDF, 627 KB)
Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd.
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 FMA area: N/A
Total FMA Area: 84,262 hectares
West Fraser Mills Ltd. (Edson)
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 FMA area:
- Tall Pine Timber Co. Ltd.
- Precision Forest Industries Ltd.
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 265,608 hectares
West Fraser Mills Ltd. (Hinton)
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 FMA area: N/A
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 987,934 hectares
West Fraser Mills Ltd. (Slave Lake)
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 FMA area:
- Millar Western Forest Products Ltd.
- Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd.
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 636,899 hectares
West Fraser Mills Ltd. and Tolko Industries Ltd.
Agreement Duration: March 5, 2002 to March 4, 2022
Original agreement commenced: March 5, 2002
Main facility: West Fraser sawmill and finger-joint facility in High Prairie; Tolko: Oriented strand board facility near High Prairie.
Other forest companies operating on the FMA area:
- 1104384 Alberta Ltd.
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 245,527 hectares
Weyerhaeuser Company Limited (Grande Prairie)
Agreement Duration: May 1, 2008 to April 30, 2028
Original agreement commenced: January 3, 1969
Main facility: Bleached kraft pulp mill, dimension lumber sawmill, and electricity generation facility in Grande Prairie.
Other forest companies operating on the FMA area:
- Norbord Inc.
- Tolko Industries Ltd.
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 1,117,865 hectares
Weyerhaeuser Company Limited (Pembina Timberland)
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 FMA 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.
Total (Gross) FMA Area: 954,281 hectares