FOREWORD 



The Annual Report of the Minister of Lands and Forests is 

 a review of the Department's activities during the latest 

 fiscal year completed. Additional detail is reported in "Sta- 

 tistics, 1973" which is released concurrently. 



This is the first Annual Report since the administrative 

 reorganization which became effective on April 1, 1971. 

 Head office branches are now grouped within four divi- 

 sions, each under an executive director, with the exception 

 of Research Branch which is under a director who reports 

 directly to the Deputy Minister. The new divisions are 

 named below. The field organization is still based on 

 twenty-one forest districts, grouped within three regions. 



As this report takes the form of a collection of reports 

 by the Department's numerous subdivisions, it should be 

 noted that these represent the considerable variety of the 

 Department's responsibilities and the many duties dis- 

 charged with the same over-all aim. 



This common aim and dependent objectives were ex- 

 amined closely following the adoption of the Planning, Pro- 

 gramming and Budgeting System of management by the 

 Ontario Government in 1969. Considerable work had been 

 done in this area previously, so that what was required was 

 actually a refinement to the following terms. 

 GOAL AND OBJECTIVES 



To provide from Crown lands and waters, and to en- 

 courage on private lands and waters, a continuing 

 combination of resource development, outdoor rec- 

 reation, and quality environment most consistent 

 with the social and economic well-being of the people 

 of Ontario. 



The three principal objectives follow logically from the 

 goal statement and are reflected in the new organization as 

 stated below. Essentially, the land management objective is 



concerned with the land base and its care and up-keep. The 

 other two objectives relate to the consumptive and non- 

 consumptive uses of the renewable resources which exist on 

 the land base. 

 LAND MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE 



To provide co-ordinated land and water resource 

 management within the framework of a government- 

 wide quality environment goal through planned land- 

 use allocation and control, environmental protection, 

 and inter-agency co-operation so that optimum social 

 and economic benefits accrue to the people of 

 Ontario both now and in the future. 

 This is the common objective of programs which are the 

 responsibility of the new Land Management Division. 

 OUTDOOR RECREA TION OBJECTIVE 



To provide (a) opportunities for a wide variety of 

 outdoor recreational experiences accessible to, and 

 for the continuing benefit of, all the people of 

 Ontario, and (b) an optimum continuing contribution 

 to the economy of Ontario and its regions from the 

 tourist industry. 

 This is the common objective of programs which are the 

 responsibility of the new Outdoor Recreation Division. 

 RESOURCES DE VELOPMENT OBJECTI VE 



To provide an optimum continuing contribution to 

 the economy of Ontario and its regions from the 

 industries utilizing renewable, natural resources. 

 This is the common objective of programs which are the 

 responsibility of the new Resource Products Division. 



The new Finance and Administration Division and 

 Research Branch share in the Department's goal and objec- 

 tives through the services they provide for the first three 

 divisions. 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 



OUTDOOR RECREATION DIVISION 



Parks and Recreation Areas Branch 3 



Sport Fisheries Branch 4 



Wildlife Branch 6 



LAND MANAGEMENT DIVISION 



Environmental Protection Branch 9 



Lands and Waters Branch 12 



Surveys and Engineering Branch 13 



RESEARCH BRANCH 16 



FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION DIVISION 



Legal Services Branch 19 



Services Branch 22 



Personnel Branch 24 



Financial Management Branch 25 



RESOURCE PRODUCTS DIVISION 



Commercial Fish and Fur Branch 32 



Resource Economics Branch 33 



Timber Management Branch 34 



Timber Sales Branch 37 



Timber Statistics 38 



