Resource Stewardship Agreements (RSAs)

Resource-based tourism operators and forest companies are two major business users of Ontario’s publicly owned forests. Planning and managing the effective use of this resource is essential to the well being of many northern Ontario communities.

The Resource Stewardship Agreement (RSA) process has been developed to encourage the forest and resource-based tourism industries to work closer together in the planning of forestry operations that could potentially impact tourist operations.  Sustainable Forest License (SFL) holders and resource-based tourism operators are encouraged to negotiate RSA’s.  In an RSA, the two businesses discuss their respective values/concerns and agree on certain things like tourism values, forest management prescriptions and road use management strategies.  These agreements then form part of the input into the development of a Forest Management Plan (FMP). FMP’s are written for each of the 48 Forest Management Units (FMU) in Ontario.  FMP’s now have a 10-year planning cycle with operational details addressed in two five-year terms (i.e. road locations, harvest blocks, renewal activities).

Starting Early
The aim of the RSA process is to allow businesses potentially affected by forestry operations to meet as early as possible in the FMP planning process to identify concerns and attempt to find workable solutions.  Through business-to-business discussions, the parties develop an agreement that they sign which will be used to develop the Forest Management Plan.

The RSA process does not replace other forms of public input, but rather provides an opportunity for the forestry and tourism industries to address and resolve any concerns before the plan is brought forward for full public discussion.

How the RSA Process Works
At the beginning of the FMP planning process in each FMU, the Sustainable Forest License holder is required to contact all licensed resource-based tourism businesses on their Unit (by registered letter) and invite them to participate in the RSA process.  After indicating they wish to participate, tourism operators should meet with SFL planning staff to discuss their business needs and the SFL’s plans.

At this stage, tourism operators can begin to identify important values to their business (i.e. accommodation facilities, recreation trails, shore lunch sites etc.) and raise any concerns they may have about planned operations near those values.  Once those values are identified (and mapped if necessary), tourism operators and SFL staff can negotiate an agreement that satisfies their respective concerns.
 
The parties are encouraged to complete their RSA discussions as early as possible because those portions of the RSA that have a direct affect on the prescriptions and forest management activities proposed in the FMP are subject to public review through the FMP public review process. The forest management prescriptions in your RSA come into force when the Ministry of Natural Resources approves the FMP (with those agreed upon prescriptions from your RSA included).

 

If you have additional questions about the RSA process, please contact Jim Antler, Policy Advisor, at 1-800-462-9906, (705) 494-4159, or by email to james.antler@ontario.ca

RSA Support Publications

Resource Stewardship Agreement Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

The RSA Memorandum of Understanding outlines the broad framework under which RSAs are to be developed. The MOU was negotiated by representatives of Ontario’s Resource-Based Tourism and Forest industries in 2000 and was subsequently endorsed by the Ministers of Tourism, Natural Resources, and Northern Development and Mines. The MOU also sets the general principles and minimum content for an RSA. The Resource-Based Tourism and Forest industries in Ontario agree to respect and adhere to this Memorandum and to negotiate RSAs in good faith.

• The Resource Stewardship Agreement Memorandum of Understanding
  
  
  

Guide to Resource Stewardship Agreements

In an attempt to expand upon the general framework outlined in the RSA MOU, the Ministry of Natural Resources, with input from the Resource-Based Tourism and Forest industries, developed a Guide to Negotiating Resource Stewardship Agreements (First Edition – June 2001). The Guide provides additional background and advice regarding the steps involved in the negotiation of RSAs and the roles of both industries and Government in the process.

• The Guide to Negotiating Resource Stewardship Agreements

Management Guidelines for Forestry and Resource-Based Tourism

The Management Guidelines for Forestry and Resource-Based Tourism (2001) serve as a toolkit to assist forest management planners and resource-based tourism operators in finding the appropriate forest management tools and techniques to effectively manage tourism values in Ontario’s Crown forests. The Guidelines were drafted by a working group that was comprised of staff from the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Natural Resources, as well as representatives from the Resource-Based Tourism and Forest industries. The Guidelines serve as an excellent resource document and include many helpful tips that are based on actual experience in managing tourism values in the forest.

• The Management Guidelines for Forestry and Resource-Based Tourism