R11 Forest Management Plan
Last review/updated January 30, 2008
The R11 Forest Management Unit (FMU), also known as the Bighorn Backcountry, encompasses 521,900 ha of Rocky Mountains and foothills adjacent to Banff and Jasper National parks. The Whitegoat and Siffleur Wilderness Areas as well as the Sundre Forest Products, Weyerhaeuser, and Sundance Forest Industries Forest Management Areas surround R11. To date, levels of human development within the R11 FMU have been relatively low.
Wildfire, insect outbreaks, and diseases represent the primary natural disturbance agents historically present within the Alberta mountains and foothills. These disturbances created a mosaic of forest habitat types and ages across the landscape. However, decades of fire suppression to protect human development and values have altered the fire regime. Lack of disturbance from harvesting or natural fires has allowed fuel indices and mountain pine beetle risk to extreme levels, making the R11 area very susceptible to sudden, dramatic and massive stand-level changes. As most timber in the R11 FMU remains unallocated, the Forestry Division of ASRD was given the challenge of developing a forest management plan (FMP) that will create a more stable forest better able to provide the variety of values and services generated by this area.
For more information contact Kevin Gagne.
