Introduction - Getting More from Your Woodlot

Did you know that valuable shiitake mushrooms can be grown on oak logs under a forest canopy? Thus, more than one valuable crop can be grown in the same area.

WHAT IS INTEGRATED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT?

Canadians have often been described as hewers of wood and drawers of water. This traditional outlook ignores many other benefits that forests can provide. These benefits include recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat, clean water, soil conservation, carbon storage, and other environmental values. The potential benefits from our forests are numerous.

IRM is a means of realizing many benefits from forest or other natural area, and making sure the renewable benefits are there for future generations. It is a planning and decision making process that maximizes long term sustainable benefits while recognizing and minimizing conflicts. It examines the relationship between various resource uses and the effects managing one resource has upon other resources. With IRM, all resource values are considered when making forest land use decisions.

IRM also implies that goals or benefits are integrated and environmentally responsible.

Wild ginseng is a valuable, rare plant that can grow under the shade of a hardwood stand. Ginseng roots have been used for centuries as a herbal remedy. For minimal investment woodlot owners can have valuable roots to harvest in four to ten years. For more information contact the Wildseng Co. at 506-756-2380.

WHAT DOES IRM MEAN FOR WOODLOT OWNERS ?

Practicing IRM on a woodlot helps you achieve benefits and goals that are important to you, while you consider other values. It does not necessarily mean more wood, more wildlife, or more money. It could provide more of some of these, but the key is getting more of what you want, and doing so in an environmentally responsible manner. With IRM, all of your objectives do not have to be met on all sections of your woodlot.

It also implies sustaining the things that are important to you and to the health of the forest. These must meet the needs of the present owner without compromising the ability of the land to meet the needs of future owners. With ownership comes an obligation to care for one's land for future generations. What we do now can affect forests for several generations. The future is in our hands.

Woodlots offer even more possibilities when combined with the values offered by neighboring woodlots. For example, trails that connect woodlots can improve hiking, skiing, and other recreational opportunities. Neighboring landowners can work together to leave more effective (ie. larger) travel corridors for wildlife. Discussing your plans with neighbors (consultation) and others who use your property is an important part of IRM.

An IRM plan can help you develop and balance goals and reduce conflicts on your land. It brings compatible ideas together, instead of isolating them. It allows you to meet several goals at the same time, while minimizing conflicts. However, practicing IRM may sometimes require compromises to meet several goals at the same time. In other words, you can't always have your cake and eat it too.

Thus, IRM usually involves four C's: compatibility, conflict, compromise, and consultation. You may discover these four C's often as you develop and implement your IRM plan.

Exercise 1: List ways you practice IRM and/or benefits that come from your woodlot.

Lesson1 Quiz