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1. Overview of the RNA Showcase Event
Resources North Association held a special showcase event in conjunction with our annual general meeting on September 21, 2011. The event highlighted new and ongoing projects being delivered by RNA and our partners. Topics covered were agroforestry, bioenergy, caribou, leadership workshops, sturgeon, climate change, natural resource management camps and a landscape management forum. The event was well received with over 50 people in attendance. Participants and partners have requested that this type of event could be held on an annual basis as it was very informative. A big thank you goes out to all the speakers and participants for an overall success.
2. RNA 2012 -2017 Strategic Plan being developed
RNA’s Senior Strategist, Phil Zacharatos, is currently working on the new RNA Strategic Plan for the next 5 years which will be going to the board for review and comment on December 7th. The proposed revised plan will not change what RNA does as much as it will tie together the goals, direction, strategies and desired outcomes in a more comprehensive way. It will also better articulate our multi-sectoral approach within RNA’s vision, mission and mandate. Stay tuned in early 2012 for the launch of this new document!
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3. RNA is Seeking Member’s Input into the 2012-2013 Work Plan
Do you have a project idea that you would like to see implemented? Are you dealing with an integrated resource management problem that needs addressing? Would you like to get public feedback on an initiative and need a neutral facilitator to get the most out of your meeting? We are seeking partnerships and clients for projects that are important to our members. RNA will be sending out an invitation for input into new projects for our upcoming work plan. Please stay tuned for additional details to come!
4. RNA joins the Facebook world
RNA’s
stakeholders can now access RNA information and communicate with RNA staff and other stakeholders on our new Facebook pages. Recognizing the importance and value of social networking in today’s world, RNA will be developing its communication tools to facilitate more interaction with our members and clients. Stakeholders are encouraged to review the pages and engage in the dialogue.
stakeholders can now access RNA information and communicate with RNA staff and other stakeholders on our new Facebook pages. Recognizing the importance and value of social networking in today’s world, RNA will be developing its communication tools to facilitate more interaction with our members and clients. Stakeholders are encouraged to review the pages and engage in the dialogue.5. RNA visit to the Pacific Forestry Centre
Stephanie Killam, RNA board chair and Melanie Karjala, RNA general manager, traveled to the Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre in November to meet with the Director General, Kami Ramcharan and Nello Cataldo, Collaborative Forestry Program Manager, and Anne Dickenson, Forestry Development Officer. This purpose of the meeting was to keep the Canadian Forest Service informed of our accomplishments through the Forest Communities Program. The meeting was held jointly with the Clayoquot Forest Communities and the chair of the Canadian Model Forest Network, Daniel Arbour. RNA presented on programs and projects that we’ve accomplished over the five years of the Forest Communities Program as well as projects that are in development for the future.
6. IMFN Secretariat and CMFN undertake a pilot project to encourage research in Model Forests
Model Forests represent platforms for effective and credible research into a wide range of ecological, economic and social issues related to sustainable forest management. The International Model Forest Network (IMFN) Secretariat and the Canadian Model Forest Network (CMFN) are working on a collaborative pilot project to develop a metadata collection framework that will promote model forests as places to undertake research on topics and issues that are relevant to stakeholders. A preliminary metadata collection framework is being prepared to initiate the process and to serve as a platform to expand its utility. The overarching theme for the pilot project is climate change. Key related spatial datasets, such as forest inventories, land use and land cover, and natural disturbances are being identified and documented. Resources North Association, Eastern Ontario Model Forest, Fundy Model Forest and IMFN and CMFN representatives have been developing the framework. In December 2011, a select number of international model forests around the world will be invited to participate in the pilot project. If the pilot phase proves successful, the project will be expanded to include many more model forests, and end-user tools such as a spatially enabled web search tool will be developed to direct researchers to pertinent data. For more information on the IMFN, please see the IMFN website.
