The Adapted Forestry Regime

Adapted Forestry Regime

 The Adapted Forestry Regime (AFR) applied on Agreement territory is characterized by adjustments to the Québec Forest Regime (AFR). The AFR contains specific provisions in favour of the Cree so that they ensure their party and collaborate in forest territory management. The forest regime gives the Crees access to forestry resources through an annual timber volume and promotes employment prospects, contracts and partnerships in forest activities.

Objectives of the Adapted Forestry Regime

The 2002 Agreement set three objectives:

• better take into account the Cree traditional way of life.
• greater integration of concerns relating to sustainable development.
• participation, in the form of consultation, by the Crees in the various forest development activities planning and management processes, in particular for tactical forest development plan (PAFIT) and operational plan (PAFIO) finalization and monitoring.

In the context of AFR harmonization under the Sustainable Forest Development Act (SFDA) implemented on April 1, 2013, a fourth objective was established:

• collaboration, in the form of concerted action, by the Cree Nation Government (CNG) and the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Regional Government (EIJBRG) in the forest plan development, consultation and monitoring process. This collaborative forest resource management regime applies to Category II and III lands of AFR territory.

This objective seeks to reflect the parties’ commitments made under the Agreement on Governance in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Territory Between the Crees of Eeyou and the Gouvernement du Québec, signed on July 24, 2012.