By Cecilia Nasmith

Northumberland County residents are being invited – through Nov. 6 – to review and offer input on the Northumberland County Forest Master Plan.

The policy is the result of community and user-group consultation in 2019, as well as research into best practices for maintaining both natural habitat and recreational assets. It will help guide the sustainable management of Northumberland Forest over the next 20 years, according to the announcement.

The origin of the policy dates back to 2018 discussions between county staff and members of the Forest Advisory Committee, which in turn led to public consultations to gather information, ideas and feedback from residents and forest users (through a June 2019 on-line survey and public open houses that fall). This feedback and input provided key insight that was incorporated into the development of eight categories of objectives in the final draft plan:

• Communication, public engagement and partnerships

• Recreation

• Risk, liability and enforcement

• Natural heritage – ecology

• Natural heritage – forestry

• Cultural heritage

• Infrastructure and administration

• Finance

To review the plan and share your feedback and questions with the County Forest team, visit JoinIn.Northumberland.ca.