The Forest Management Division (FMD) provides the policy, planning and regulatory framework for the stewardship, protection and sustainable management of forest resources on 33 million hectares of land in the Northwest Territories, 8% of Canada's entire forested area. Working with First Nations governments, communities, other governments and non-governmental agencies on such a vast land mass, presents unique and complex challenges for forest managers.

The FMD co-ordinates and facilitates the implementation of forest management programs and services among the five administrative regions of ENR. The regional offices have the primary responsibility for delivery of programs. Regional staff implement forest resource and fire management programs for the Department. Regional personnel receive applications for approval to harvest, supervise harvesting activities, ensure compliance with standards, support community protection planning efforts and carry out fire management activities under the direction of the Forest Management Division.

The Forest Management Division also works with others to achieve forest management objectives that are consistent with the GNWT vision, ENR mandate and the Canada Forest Accord. National level forest reporting includes information required for the State of Canada's Forests Report and those further required for other national commitments on biodiversity, forest ecosystem sustainability, and climate change. The theme for the Canada Forest Accord and the National Forest Strategy is "Forests: Source of Life.

Northerners, probably more so than other Canadians, embrace this principle wholeheartedly. Our forests are our source of life!