Forest management standards and guidelines

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.

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.
- Alberta Forest Management Planning Standard – Version 4.1 April 2006
- Directive AF-FDP-2021-03 Impacts of Wildfire-Burned Areas on Annual Allowable Cuts (October 26, 2021)
- Interpretive Bulletins
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 (PDF, 186 KB) November 2017
Provincial Operating Ground Rules
- Alberta Timber Harvest Planning and Operating Ground Rules (2023)
Addendums
Reforestation standards
Reforestation Standard of Alberta (RSA)
- Reforestation Standard of Alberta May 2022
- RSA Establishment Field Sheets (XLS, 66 KB) May 2017
- RSA Establishment Field Sheets UP (XLS, 67 KB) May 2018
- RSA Performance MAI Field Sheets (Aerial Non Photo) (XLS, 83 KB) May 2018
- RSA Performance MAI (Validation Form) (XLSX, 27 KB) May 2022
- RSA Performance Strat Audit Forms (XLSX, 49 KB) May 2017
- RSA Performance Field Sheets (Aerial Non Photo Audit) (XLSX, 18 KB) May 2017
- RSA Performance Field Sheets and Validation Form UP (XLS, 181 KB) May 2022
- RSA PS Field Audit Summary Tables Example (XLSX, 24 KB) May 2020
RSA Sample Selection Tool
- Sample Selection Tool (XLS, 2.1 MB) March 2021
- RSA Sample Selection Tool User's Manual(PDF, 584 KB) May 2018
- RSA Sample Selection Tool Licence Agreement (PDF, 74 KB) May 2018
RSA Compiler
- RSA Compiler (ZIP, 4.2 MB) November 2022
- RSA Compiler User Manual (PDF, 2.8 MB) November 2018
- RSA Compiler Licence Agreement (PDF, 73 KB) November 2018
RSA Landbase Designation Code and Mean Annual Increment (MAI) Standards
- Landbase Designation Code and Mean Annual Increment Standards Database (DOC, 2.0 MB) May 2015
- Mean Annual Increment Standards for Crown Forest Management Units January 2014
- Provincial Utilization Standard Conversion Report and Tool (ZIP, 5.0 MB)
Herbicide guidelines
- Forest Management Herbicide Reference Manual March 2023
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 Volume 1 Stream 1 and Stream 2 December 2016
- Alberta Forest Genetic Resource Management and Conservation Standards Manual Volume 1A Stream 1 December 2016
- Alberta Forest Genetic Resource Management and Conservation Standards Manual (Stakeholder feedback) December 2016
- Approved Commercial Seed Processing and Testing Facilities (PDF, 120 KB) November 2018
- Seed Testing Standards Manual December 2016
- Seed Zones of Alberta Map December 2016
Forms
- Find all FGRMS and forestry business forms
Procedures and examples
- Best Practices Field Procedures for Tree Measurements in Genetic Field Trails December 2016
- Example of Annual Operations Orchard Report – Appendix 35A (PDF, 559 KB) March 2011
- Example of Genetic Test Analysis Report – Appendix 28 (PDF, 290 KB) March 2011
- Example Controlled Parentage Program (CPP) Plan (PDF, 771 KB) August 2008
- Lodgepole Pine Superior Tree Selection Project November 2008
- White Spruce Superior Tree Selection Project 2007

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Forest management standards and guidelines

Table of contents

Introduction

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Table of contents

Introduction

Forest Management Planning Standard

Operating ground rules

Provincial Operating Ground Rules

Reforestation standards

Reforestation Standard of Alberta (RSA)

RSA Sample Selection Tool

RSA Compiler

RSA Landbase Designation Code and Mean Annual Increment (MAI) Standards

Herbicide guidelines

Genetic standards

Manuals

Forms

Procedures and examples

Related