November 9, 2009
On behalf of the Forestry Futures Trust Committee, I am pleased to invite Sustainable Forest License Holders and Managers of Crown units to participate in the twenty-ninth call for applications for funding for silviculture projects from the Forestry Futures Trust.
This call is the result of a special new one year silviculture job stimulus program announced earlier today by the Hon. Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. The program will provide up to $6 million in additional work for the silviculture service industry (greenhouse operations, site preparation, and planting contractors) to carry out efficient, effective and incremental forest renewal activities on Crown land with priority given to areas of natural disturbance.
Eligibility Criteria:
| 1. | Projects must create new jobs |
| 2. |
ProProjects must show “incrementality”, meaning: · Seedling production, site preparation and planting in areas of natural disturbance for which the SFL holder had no responsibility for renewal. · Seedling production, site preparation and planting in areas previously identified for natural or basic renewal activities.
Incrementality must be verified in writing by the appropriate MNR District Manager.
|
| 3. |
Projects must take place on Crown land, within the “Area of the
Undertaking”. |
| 4. |
Proponents can be SFL holders or MNR Districts (in the case of Crown
Management Units). |
| 5. |
Planting of the areas must
take place in 2010. Therefore current crops of seedlings must be grown.
Carryovers to subsequent years will not be considered. Proponents with seedlings currently being grown for the planned 2010 planting season may swap such seedlings for current crops grown and then plant the current crops later in the planting season. Planting of current crop must be guaranteed by the proponent in the event of a stock swap. Current growing standards must be met.
|
| 6. |
Site preparation (if needed) must take place in the 2009/10 fiscal year
(e.g. winter shear-blading) or in the spring of 2010 prior to the planting
of the stock. |
| 7. |
The incremental activity must be eligible under the current Forest
Management |
| 8. | Plan and supported by a silvicultural ground rule. |
Program Funding:
This program will provide funding for two types of projects:
| 1. |
Full reimbursement for projects that include seedling production, site
preparation, and planting on areas of natural disturbance. |
| 2. |
1. Partial reimbursement for projects that involve an increase of silviculture intensity. For example, an applicant has previously been approved to carry out basic renewal activities on an identified area of harvested Crown land. The site was site prepared for seeding. Application is made to now plant the area instead. The applicant would be eligible for reimbursement of only the stock production and planting costs. |
Evaluation Criteria:
| 1. |
The number of additional
person weeks of employment created in the silviculture service industry.
Proponents must be able to demonstrate the number of additional person weeks
over and above their planned program. |
| 2. | Project must be feasible with respect to the use of “current crop” planting stock and the size limitations that such crops have. Crop “swapping” is acceptable provided that seed source guidelines and seedling quality standards are adhered to. |
| 3. |
Priority will be given to
areas of natural disturbance. Second priority will be given to proposals to
treat harvested areas with a more intensive silvicultural treatment than
currently planned. |
| 4. |
First Nations and other
community involvement |
In this special round, the Committee will accept applications that include an applicant cost of up to 5% of the project to cover overhead expenses associated with the project.
As the Forestry Futures Trust Committee activities are subject to audit on an annual basis,, Applications, Terms of Project Approval, Payment Authorization and subsequent Project Work Reports are all reviewed carefully. In order to ensure that all requirements of the audit are met and maintained, the following will apply for the purposes of this round:
· A reimbursement schedule will be part of the Project Application. Submission of invoices is expected to follow the reimbursement schedule.
· An interim work report for each project is due March 31 2010 summarizing the project activities completed for the 2009/ 2010 fiscal year.
· Immediately on completion of the project, a Final Project Work Report will be submitted.
· Once the final invoice has been received and upon approval of the Final Project Work Report by the Committee, the Trustee will be directed to release the final payment.
An electronic version of the Round 29 application form and instruction for its completion is available from our website at www.forestryfutures.ca
All information contained in the Application, the Notice of Project Approval, Terms of Project Approval, the Invoice Authorization Form, Interim Invoice for Reimbursement, Final Invoice Reimbursement, Project Work Reports or any associated documents shall be considered public information subject to the application of the Freedom of Information and Privacy Act R.S.P. 1990. c. F. 31 and are collected under the authority of the Act.
In order for your application to be reviewed during Round 29, it must be received on or before November 27 2009. A submission containing incomplete information or in which key elements are missing will be returned to the applicant. It is therefore advisable to submit an application well in advance of the deadline. Each applicant will be advised of the Committee decision on December 4 2009
Applications should be sent electronically to the Forestry Futures Trust Committee at admin@forestryfutures.com with a copy to the Committee Secretariat at diane.black@ontario.ca .
If you have any questions please contact Thom McDonough, Forestry Futures Trust Committee Secretariat at [705] 945 6634 or the Forestry Futures Trust Committee General Manager, Mona Wiltshire at [807] 343-8851.
Yours sincerely,
Maureen Kershaw R.P.F.
Chair, Forestry Futures Trust Committee