Independent Science Advisory Committee
In 2004 the Wilderness Committee initiated the formation of the Independent Science Advisory Team (ISAT) with Tembec and leading woodland caribou researcher Jim Schaefer. ISAT was tasked with examining Tembec's plans to log in caribou habitat. One of three scientific recommendations resulting from ISAT was to not log the summer calving grounds of the Owl Lake herd. Tembec disagreed with the science on this issue, and refused to protect the area. The ISAT work continued with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) in 2006. As a result of the ISAT work in October 2007 CPAWS and Tembec announced a 50-year deferral of logging in the core zone of the winter habitat of the Owl Lake herd.

Overcutting Violations
Clearcuts in Manitoba must be smaller than 400 meters in any direction, according to the Wildlife Guidelines. In 2004 Tembec was taken to court for cutting larger-than allowed areas at Shoe Lake near Nopiming Park. This was a rare private prosecution that was brought forward by Ron Alexander, an outfitter operating in the area, because the government refused to act on this illegal cut. The prosecution was taken over by the Manitoba government's crown prosecutor, and the proceedings were stayed. The government reasoning for this was that they had worked out the problem with Tembec, and the problem of over-cutting was resolved. One year later Tembec was again charged with over-cutting, and this time were charged a $10,000 fine. A Wilderness Committee investigation of Tembec clearcuts that took place between 2002 and 2006 in Nopiming Park found many instances where the cut blocks were larger than the legal limit. In the spring of 2007 it came to the Wilderness Committee's attention that Tembec was pressuring the government to remove the Wildlife Guidelines from their cutting permits, effectively increasing the size of their clearcuts. The Wilderness Committee published a press release with this information, which can be found here. Subsequently Tembec has denied lobbying to remove the Wildlife Guidelines, but also insists the guidelines go against scientific forestry practices. It is now known that pressure from Tembec and the Forest Industry Association of Manitoba (FIAM, an industry lobby group), the Manitoba government has said they will relax the Wildlife Guideline requirements.

Tembec's January 2007 Open House Action
In January of 2007 representatives for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) reviewed Tembec's logging operation in FML 1. Tembec had applied to be certified by FSC as responsible stewards of the forests they operate in. Also in January the Wilderness Committee started an in-depth review of Tembec' s logging plans for Nopiming Park. The hope was that in order for Tembec to be certified as a responsible forester through FSC they would have to actually be caring stewards of Manitoba public lands, and stop logging in provincial parks as the CEC had recommended. The Wilderness Committee review of Tembec's logging plans found many troublesome areas, and the Wilderness Committee published a media release questioning Tembec's activities (found here). The Wilderness Committee also hosted a rival open house along with Tembec's annual open house, to question Tembec about the concerns we found. Details of this event can be found by clicking here.

Tembec and FSC
Tembec has been attempting to receive FSC certification since 2001. Several times the certification has been denied because their logging operations were not sound. Forest Stewardship Council oversight of Tembec's Manitoba operations was seen as a great hope. In many jurisdictions the FSC standards, in this case the National Boreal Standards, are more stringent than provincial law. When a forestry operation receives certification it is expected that the forestry company will operate above and beyond what is required by law. You can read a January 2007 article about FSC and the hope for Nopiming Park by clicking here.

Formal Meetings with Tembec National
Following the January Open House several meetings were held between the Wilderness Committee and staff from Tembec's national office. A broad range of concerns about Tembec's Manitoba operation were raised by the Wilderness Committee. Logging in provincial parks and logging in woodland caribou habitat were chief concerns. The meetings concluded with no progress. Tembec's official response was that logging in caribou habitat was being managed fine, and that stopping logging in provincial parks would be "a significant challenge." Tembec also said that enough of their FML area was protected.

Tembec's October 2007 Open House
In October 2007 Tembec held another Open House for public consultations on their 2008 to 2028 logging plans. The Wilderness Committee attended the event, however no Tembec employees, including the National Manager of Aboriginal and Environmental Affairs, would answer questions on record. The evaluation of Tembec's long-term plan can be found by clicking here.

In conjunction with Tembec's Open House in October 2007, the Forest Stewardship Council awarded Tembec certification, despite their continued illegal logging of provincial parks and caribou habitat.