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EOMF Successful Site Under New Forest Communities Program July 9, 2007 After 15 years of funding as part of the Canadian Model Forest Network (CMFN), the Kemptville-based Eastern Ontario Model Forest (EOMF) has been named a successful sustainable forestry site under the new Forest Communities Program (FCP). The announcement was made July 7 by Natural Resources Canada. In all, 11 community sites will be funded under the FCP. “The approval process required a lot of hard work over several months by staff and supporters,” said EOMF president Jim McCready. “We’re very proud to have been selected under the new program which builds on 15 previous successful years as a model forest.” McCready said that, in addition to continuing to work with local communities to promote and ensure sustainable forestry, the EOMF sees an extended role in helping with efforts nationally and internationally as it has for the past several years, including in welcoming many delegations and in sharing experiences with model forest sites at home and abroad. Seven of Canada’s original model forests will be funded under the FCP, while four new sites will join the model forest family. Under the FCP, all sites become members of the CMFN and of the International Model Forest Network. The FCP is designed to address transition and development challenges faced by rural communities in Canada by establishing model forest sites implementing integrated, landscape-level approaches to community revitalization. The program approach is for activities to be developed and implemented by the communities themselves, and results shared with other communities across Canada and around the world. “Our region has directly experienced the impacts of recent mill closures and the subsequent effects manifested in various disruptions to our rural areas – including job losses and associated repercussions for small woodlot management,” McCready said. “As a new FCP site, the EOMF will work closely with partners and communities to cultivate forest-based job creation opportunities and to develop and share innovative, science-based forest management tools and practices.” For more information: Elizabeth Holmes, EOMF, (613) 258-8415 or eholmes@eomf.on.ca