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 This long-term security includes a compensation mechanism if lands are withdrawn from their FMA.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:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
- 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.