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Introduction
Forest management planning is essential to sustainable forest management and responsible stewardship in Alberta. Under the authority of the Forests Act, Alberta has developed strict standards for forest management planning. Each type of forest management planning document has specific standards and guidelines.
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Forest Management Planning Standard
The Alberta Forest Management Planning Standard (the Standard) and its annexes, interpretive bulletins and updates comprise the standard for preparing and implementing Forest Management Plans (FMP) in Alberta. These standards ensure consistent, thorough plan submissions.
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Operating ground rules
The following documents provide direction for developing timber harvest plans and operating ground rules. These rules affect forest management operations throughout the province. These documents will be under regular review by the Forestry Division.
- TM 118 – Annual Operating Plan Standard Form November 2017
Provincial Operating Ground Rules
- Alberta Timber Harvest Planning and Operating Ground Rules (2026)
- Operating ground rule guidance bulletin
Addendums
- Alberta Newsprint Company (ANC) Timber Ltd. operating ground rules
- Blue Ridge Lumber Inc. Forest Management Plan/Agreement Area Specific Addendum
- Canadian Forest Products Ltd. Forest Management Plan/Agreement Area Specific Addendum
- Canfor–Whitecourt Forest Management Plan/Agreement Area-Specific Addendum
- Edson Forest Products (West Fraser) Forest Management Plan/Agreement Area-Specific Addendum
- Forest Management Unit (FMU) E08 Area-Specific Addendum
- Forest Management Unit (FMU) F23 Area-Specific Addendum
- Forest Management Unit (FMU) S10 Forest Management Plan-Specific Addendum
- Hinton Wood Products Forest Management Plan/Agreement Area-Specific Addendum
- Lesser Slave Lake Regional Forest Management Plan Specific Addendum: S16, S17, S19, S20, S21 and S24
- Manning Forest Products Forest Management Plan/Agreement Area-Specific Addendum
- Mercer Peace River Pulp Forest Management Plan/Agreement Area-Specific Addendum
- Northeast Alberta Regional Area-Specific Addendum
- Spray Lake Sawmills Ltd. (1980) and Crowsnest Forest Ltd. Forest management plan/agreement area-specific addendum (2024)
- Sundre Forest Products Ltd. Forest Management Plan/Agreement Area-Specific Addendum
- Upper Hay Regional Area-Specific Addendum
- Weyerhaeuser Company-Grande Prairie Forest Management Plan/Agreement Area-Specific Addendum
- Weyerhaeuser Company-Pembina Forest Management Plan/Agreement Area-Specific Addendum
Forms
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Reforestation standards
Reforestation Standard of Alberta (RSA)
- Reforestation Standard of Alberta May 2024
- RSA Establishment Field Sheets May 2017
- RSA Establishment Field Sheets UP May 2018
- RSA Performance MAI Field Sheets (Aerial Non Photo) May 2018
- RSA Performance MAI (Validation Form) March 2025
- RSA Performance Strat Audit Forms May 2017
- RSA Performance Field Sheets (Aerial Non Photo Audit) May 2017
- RSA Performance Field Sheets and Validation Form UP May 2022
- RSA PS Field Audit Summary Tables Example May 2020
RSA Performance Stratification Templates
- RSA Performance Stratification Templates (May 2024)
RSA Sample Selection Tool
- Sample Selection Tool March 2021
- RSA Sample Selection Tool User's Manual May 2018
- RSA Sample Selection Tool Licence Agreement May 2018
RSA Compiler for 32-bit Microsoft Office
- RSA Compiler v20190619 November 2022
- RSA Compiler User Manual November 2018
- RSA Compiler Licence Agreement November 2018
RSA Digital Submissions
- Performance survey programs November 2025
RSA Compiler for 64-bit Microsoft Office
- RSA Compiler v20240705 November 2024
- RSA Compiler User Manual November 2024
- RSA Compiler Licence Agreement November 2024
RSA Landbase Designation Code and Mean Annual Increment (MAI) Standards
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Forest Operations Monitoring Program (FOMP)
The Forest Operations Monitoring Program (FOMP) is Alberta’s provincial system for monitoring and auditing forest industry activities on Crown land. It was established by the Government of Alberta to standardize how inspections of timber operations and related activities are conducted.
FOMP ensures that forestry operations comply with provincial legislation, including the Forests Act, the Timber Management Regulation, and other approved operational plans and standards. The program uses both field inspections and audits to verify that harvesting, reforestation, road construction, reclamation, and other activities meet required provincial standards.
FOMP consists of two main components:
- Forest Operations Monitoring (FOM): Inspections of active timber operations and reforestation operations.
- Silviculture-ARIS Monitoring (SAM): Verification of reforestation records against the Alberta Regeneration Information System (ARIS).
The program supports sustainable forest management, protects environmental values such as soil and water, and accountability in the use of Alberta’s public forests.
FOMP operates under a structured Quality Management System (QMS) that establishes clear procedures and defined responsibilities for inspections across the province. This framework supports consistent inspection practices, transparency in monitoring activities, and continual improvement in how forest operations are reviewed and reported.
The FOMP Policy and Quality Statement outlines the program’s commitment to quality, consistency and continual improvement.
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Herbicide guidelines
- Forest Management Herbicide Reference Manual March 2023
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Genetic standards
Manuals
The Alberta Forest Genetic Resource Management and Conservation Standards (FGRMS) are presented in 2 separate documents. The first, entitled 'Alberta Forest Genetic Resource Management and Conservation Standards Volume 1: Stream 1 and Stream 2' contains all standards. The second, entitled 'Alberta Forest Genetic Resource Management and Conservation Standards Volume 1A: Stream 1' contains only those standards that apply to Stream 1 material.
- Alberta Forest Genetic Resource Management and Conservation Standards Manual: Volumes 1 and 1A December 2016
- Alberta Forest Genetic Resource Management and Conservation Standards Manual (Stakeholder feedback) December 2016
- Approved Commercial Seed Processing and Testing Facilities November 2018
- Seed Testing Standards Manual December 2016
- Seed Zones of Alberta Map December 2016
Forms
Procedures and examples
- Best Practices Field Procedures for Tree Measurements in Genetic Field Trials December 2016
- Example of Annual Operations Orchard Report – Appendix 35A March 2011
- Example of Genetic Test Analysis Report – Appendix 28 March 2011
- Example Controlled Parentage Program (CPP) Plan August 2008
- Lodgepole Pine Superior Tree Selection Project November 2008
- White Spruce Superior Tree Selection Project 2007
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Forest area office contacts