Forest operations on Crown lands

The department provides oversight of Crown forest operations by cooperating with licensees and stakeholders to monitor and evaluate forest operations, develop and continuously improve best management practices and to promote public transparency. 

Each spring, before the start of forest operations, Crown Timber Licensees submit annual operating plans outlining timber harvesting, silviculture (e.g., planting, thinning, vegetation management), road construction and major maintenance. These plans are updated throughout the season to keep the department and public informed of significant changes.

Each year, thousands of field checks are completed on Crown land forests as shown in the Field Checks Map (PDF 41.4 MB). Specialized forestry staff monitor operations on a regular basis to ensure that regulations, policies and operating plans are being followed in accordance with the Forest Management Manual (PDF 500 KB). 

Field checks ensure the effectiveness of the results-based system, identify and address issues, and support continuous improvement in a timely manner. In addition, third-party forest certification audits confirm that operations meet international forest management standards.

A key component of the Crown land forest management system is the evaluation of Crown Timber Licensee performance against forest-wide goals and objectives that are in line with social, environmental and economic values and principles. Licensee performance is evaluated on both an annual and five-year basis. The formal five-year evaluation is conducted by the Department of Natural Resources and measures licensee performance against a set of outcomes as defined in Schedule G (PDF 279 KB) the Forest Management Agreement. 

Licensee performance is also evaluated annually by accredited third-party auditing firms that audit against the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. Standards. The reports are combined with data collected and analyzed by the department and used to prepare the five-year license performance evaluations.

The Department of Natural Resources provides a network of main access roads on Crown lands by cost-sharing repair and maintenance efforts with Crown Timber Licensees and other users.

The department is responsible for:

• arranging for repair and maintenance of over 5,000 km of designated roads (PDF 20.8 MB) (the main access roads on Crown lands)
• monitoring the status of over 50,000 km of roads and over 10,000 watercourse crossings.
• supporting access to public land for industrial and recreational users as well as indigenous rights holders

Crown Timber Licensees are responsible to plan, construct and maintain the required road access for implementation of the Forest Management Plan.  Other authorized users are also responsible to maintain the roads needed for their purpose such as lease access, adjacent private land access, utility infrastructure access, etc.

The total length and condition of the road infrastructure on forested Crown land is perpetually changing as new roads may be constructed, existing roads decommissioned, and others improved for long or short-term use.

The Designated Road Network includes some road segments on adjacent private lands and gravel surface provincial highways and is periodically updated for land use changes and access priorities. Not all roads on Crown land are maintained for vehicle use. Users must use caution and be aware that travel is at their own risk.

Generally, the  main access routes are passable by car or light truck and other branch roads are maintained when required by authorized users such as Crown Timber Licensees, lease holders or trail user groups.

For personal safety, and to protect property and the environment, those travelling on Crown roads are encouraged to use the following practices:

• when possible, avoid access roads used for industrial activities
• follow all warning signs and drive defensively
• avoid travel during seasonal times when certain roads are at risk for damage from vehicles
• use all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles on managed trails (signage by Quad NB or Snowmobile NB) or on roads without high vehicle usage
• report road issues to the nearest District Office, by email at [email protected] or by calling 506-453-3826

Authorization to upgrade or repair forest roads on Crown land (including tree cutting) may be obtained by applying to Crown Lands at 1-888-312-5600, [email protected] or Crown Lands – Licence of Occupation (gnb.ca).