The OPFA has prepared an FAQ document relating herbicides in forestry in Ontario.

The following information has been provided to the OPFA by the Ministry of Natural Resources. We encourage all OPFA registrants to review the proposed changes and submit any feedback or comments through the Environmental Registry of Ontario or to ESAReg@ontario.ca by the deadline, which is November 10, 2025. There are currently consultation opportunities related to the implementation of the Species Conservation Act, 2025 (SCA) that was enacted as part of the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025 (Bill 5), which received Royal Assent on June 5, 2025. The consultation focuses on proposed regulations and guidance materials related to the implementation of the SCA. For more details on the SCA and related changes to the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA) made by Bill 5, please see decision notice posting #025-0380 on the Environmental Registry of Ontario. Two notices of proposals on the Environmental Registry of Ontario are posted to support the implementation of the SCA: A...

All training materials for the OPFA Indigenous Peoples, Lands & Resources Standard are now available and official implementation of the Standard is now in effect. Forestry is conducted on lands that are covered by treaties with First Nations or are unceded by First Nations. An understanding of Indigenous history and Indigenous jurisdiction related to lands and resources supports and enhances professional practice, whether professional foresters are working with government agencies (federal, Indigenous, provincial, or municipal), forest sector employers, consultants, or service providers to landowners and the public. OPFA Council approved the OPFA Indigenous Peoples, Lands & Resources (IPLR) Standard at their December 5th 2019 Council meeting and work began to develop a series of specialized training materials for professional foresters. At the Annual General Meeting on April 9, 2025, the Membership confirmed the By-law changes passed by OPFA Council. These changes officially implemented the Indigenous Peoples Lands and Resources Standard...

Forestry is conducted on lands that are covered by treaties with First Nations or are unceded by First Nations. An understanding of Indigenous history and Indigenous jurisdiction related to lands and resources supports and enhances professional practice, whether professional foresters are working with government agencies (federal, Indigenous, provincial, or municipal), forest sector employers, consultants, or service providers to landowners and the public. OPFA Council approved the OPFA Indigenous Peoples, Lands & Resources (IPLR) Standard at their December 5th 2019 Council meeting and work began to develop a series of specialized training materials for professional foresters. At the Annual General Meeting on April 9, 2025, the Membership confirmed the By-law changes passed by OPFA Council. These changes officially implemented the Indigenous Peoples Lands and Resources Standard into the Professional Standards of Practice and added successful demonstration of competency in this Standard as a requirement for Full and Associate Membership, effective May...

Revisions to the Forest Management Planning Manual, Forest Information Manual, and Scaling Manual (collectively, “forest manuals”) were approved by the Lieutenant Governor in Council on April 25, 2024. These approved forest manuals are posted on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (https://ero.ontario.ca/, ERO posting number (019-6823). The effective date for the forest manuals is July 1, 2024. These forest manuals are regulated under section 68 of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act. They provide direction for: the development and implementation of forest management plans, including requirements for First Nation and Métis involvement and consultation; the exchange of information between the forest industry and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry; and instructions and standards for the measurement and movement of wood.

To foster diversity, equity and inclusion within the organization, OPFA staff and volunteers complete training on equity, diversity and inclusion. A list of available free to access resources are now provided in the External Resources section of the website. Please note that these resources are not owned or maintained by the OPFA. 

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks has published final government response statements for the following four species at risk under the Endangered Species Act, 2007 (ESA): Cerulean Warbler Gillman’s Goldenrod Red-headed Woodpecker Spoon-leaved Moss Ontario provides protections for species at risk and their habitats under the ESA. The government works with stakeholders, Indigenous peoples and the public to improve the effectiveness of the species at risk program, so that we can continue to help preserve Ontario’s rich biodiversity for generations to come. As required by the ESA, the province has published these government response statements, which are species-specific policies that identify and prioritize actions to protect and recover a species, in response to recommendations in recovery strategies. These statements provide policy direction to government and partners about what should be done to recover each of these species at risk. In developing these government response statements, the Ontario government...